diff --git a/ext/sockets/sockets.c b/ext/sockets/sockets.c
index 95ec940c68d..6db56c2816a 100644
--- a/ext/sockets/sockets.c
+++ b/ext/sockets/sockets.c
@@ -1670,7 +1670,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(socket_recv)
 	recv_buf = zend_string_alloc(len, 0);
 
 	if ((retval = recv(php_sock->bsd_socket, ZSTR_VAL(recv_buf), len, flags)) < 1) {
-		efree(recv_buf);
+		zend_string_free(recv_buf);
 
 		zval_dtor(buf);
 		ZVAL_NULL(buf);
@@ -1812,7 +1812,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(socket_recvfrom)
 			sin6.sin6_family = AF_INET6;
 
 			if (arg6 == NULL) {
-				efree(recv_buf);
+				zend_string_free(recv_buf);
 				WRONG_PARAM_COUNT;
 			}