diff --git a/bfd/srec.c b/bfd/srec.c
index a7ccf232531..1509bebd6c1 100644
--- a/bfd/srec.c
+++ b/bfd/srec.c
@@ -1114,13 +1114,9 @@ srec_write_symbols (bfd *abfd)
 	goto fail;
     }
 
-  free (abfd->outsymbols);
-  abfd->outsymbols = NULL;
   return true;
 
  fail:
-  free (abfd->outsymbols);
-  abfd->outsymbols = NULL;
   return false;
 }
 
diff --git a/bfd/tekhex.c b/bfd/tekhex.c
index ef2bb25fe46..aab0b2f5592 100644
--- a/bfd/tekhex.c
+++ b/bfd/tekhex.c
@@ -886,13 +886,9 @@ tekhex_write_object_contents (bfd *abfd)
   /* And the terminator.  */
   if (bfd_write ("%0781010\n", 9, abfd) != 9)
     goto fail;
-  free (abfd->outsymbols);
-  abfd->outsymbols = NULL;
   return true;
 
  fail:
-  free (abfd->outsymbols);
-  abfd->outsymbols = NULL;
   return false;
 }