diff --git a/libavformat/matroskaenc.c b/libavformat/matroskaenc.c
index c0427f9854..781121a68f 100644
--- a/libavformat/matroskaenc.c
+++ b/libavformat/matroskaenc.c
@@ -403,8 +403,6 @@ static int64_t mkv_write_cues(AVIOContext *pb, mkv_cues *cues, int num_tracks)
     }
     end_ebml_master(pb, cues_element);
 
-    av_free(cues->entries);
-    av_free(cues);
     return currentpos;
 }
 
@@ -1160,6 +1158,8 @@ static int mkv_write_trailer(AVFormatContext *s)
 
     end_ebml_master(pb, mkv->segment);
     av_free(mkv->tracks);
+    av_freep(&mkv->cues->entries);
+    av_freep(&mkv->cues);
     av_destruct_packet(&mkv->cur_audio_pkt);
     avio_flush(pb);
     return 0;