diff --git a/src/nvim/option.c b/src/nvim/option.c
index 95970a77f8..b40ecd22c8 100644
--- a/src/nvim/option.c
+++ b/src/nvim/option.c
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ void free_all_options(void)
       }
     } else if (options[i].var != VAR_WIN && (options[i].flags & P_STRING)) {
       // buffer-local option: free global value
-      free_string_option(*(char_u **)options[i].var);
+      clear_string_option((char_u **)options[i].var);
     }
   }
 }