diff --git a/src/register/basiccell.c b/src/register/basiccell.c
index 6f61a4ceb4..7decc58bfa 100644
--- a/src/register/basiccell.c
+++ b/src/register/basiccell.c
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ void xaccDestroyBasicCell (BasicCell *cell)
 
    /* help prevent access to freed memory */
    xaccInitBasicCell (cell);
+
+   /* free the object itself */
+   free (cell);
 }
 
 /* ===================================================== */