diff --git a/psycopg/lobject_type.c b/psycopg/lobject_type.c
index d5051570..823a1b76 100644
--- a/psycopg/lobject_type.c
+++ b/psycopg/lobject_type.c
@@ -359,8 +359,8 @@ lobject_dealloc(PyObject* obj)
         if (lobject_close(self) < 0)
             PyErr_Print();
         Py_XDECREF((PyObject*)self->conn);
-        PyMem_Free(self->smode);
     }
+    PyMem_Free(self->smode);
 
     Dprintf("lobject_dealloc: deleted lobject object at %p, refcnt = "
             FORMAT_CODE_PY_SSIZE_T, obj, Py_REFCNT(obj));