diff --git a/Modules/posixmodule.c b/Modules/posixmodule.c
--- a/Modules/posixmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/posixmodule.c
@@ -10119,8 +10119,10 @@
         Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS;
 
         if (length < 0) {
-            if (errno == ERANGE)
+            if (errno == ERANGE) {
+                PyMem_FREE(buffer);
                 continue;
+            }
             path_error(&path);
             break;
         }