diff --git a/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_auth.c b/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_auth.c
index 299cefd90d8..e947e4b253b 100644
--- a/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_auth.c
+++ b/ext/mysqlnd/mysqlnd_auth.c
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ mysqlnd_auth_change_user(MYSQLND_CONN_DATA * const conn,
 		conn->password.s = tmp;
 
 		if (conn->last_message.s) {
-			mnd_pefree(conn->last_message.s, conn->persistent);
+			mnd_efree(conn->last_message.s);
 			conn->last_message.s = NULL;
 		}
 		UPSERT_STATUS_RESET(conn->upsert_status);