diff --git a/src/switch_xml.c b/src/switch_xml.c
index 0862d663db..53b5f67f07 100644
--- a/src/switch_xml.c
+++ b/src/switch_xml.c
@@ -1778,6 +1778,12 @@ SWITCH_DECLARE(switch_status_t) switch_xml_locate_user(const char *key,
 		switch_event_destroy(&my_params);
 	}
 
+	if (status != SWITCH_STATUS_SUCCESS && root && *root) {
+		switch_xml_free(*root);
+		*root = NULL;
+		*domain = NULL;
+	}
+
 	return status;
 }