diff --git a/ext/standard/var_unserializer.c b/ext/standard/var_unserializer.c
index 25e44e2aa67..ac543eb6475 100644
--- a/ext/standard/var_unserializer.c
+++ b/ext/standard/var_unserializer.c
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ yy20:
 	elements = object_common1(UNSERIALIZE_PASSTHRU, ce);
 
 	if (elements < 0) {
-	   efree(class_name);
+	   zend_string_release(class_name);
 	   return 0;
 	}
 
diff --git a/ext/standard/var_unserializer.re b/ext/standard/var_unserializer.re
index c943e10050a..fdf597d75f6 100644
--- a/ext/standard/var_unserializer.re
+++ b/ext/standard/var_unserializer.re
@@ -954,7 +954,7 @@ object ":" uiv ":" ["]	{
 	elements = object_common1(UNSERIALIZE_PASSTHRU, ce);
 
 	if (elements < 0) {
-	   efree(class_name);
+	   zend_string_release(class_name);
 	   return 0;
 	}