diff --git a/ospfd/ospf_vty.c b/ospfd/ospf_vty.c
index b7261da261..34fd804ae8 100644
--- a/ospfd/ospf_vty.c
+++ b/ospfd/ospf_vty.c
@@ -781,6 +781,8 @@ DEFUN (no_ospf_area_range_substitute,
 
 	ospf_area_range_substitute_unset(ospf, area, &p);
 
+	ospf_area_check_free(ospf, area_id);
+
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }