diff --git a/fftools/ffmpeg_filter.c b/fftools/ffmpeg_filter.c
index b26160b375..161ea9c866 100644
--- a/fftools/ffmpeg_filter.c
+++ b/fftools/ffmpeg_filter.c
@@ -408,11 +408,13 @@ static int read_binary(const char *path, uint8_t **data, int *len)
 
     *len = fsize;
 
-    return 0;
+    ret = 0;
 fail:
     avio_close(io);
-    av_freep(data);
-    *len = 0;
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        av_freep(data);
+        *len = 0;
+    }
     return ret;
 }