diff --git a/lib/util.c b/lib/util.c
index 2615ce7c..1477a6a2 100644
--- a/lib/util.c
+++ b/lib/util.c
@@ -502,14 +502,13 @@ xbps_symlink_target(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *path, const char *tgt)
 		}
 		if (res == NULL) {
 			if (strcmp(xhp->rootdir, "/") == 0)
-				res = p;
-			else {
+				res = strdup(p);
+			else
 				res = strdup(p + strlen(xhp->rootdir));
-				free(p);
-			}
 		}
 		assert(res);
 		free(lnk);
+		free(p);
 	} else {
 		/* absolute */
 		res = lnk;