diff --git a/lib/libnv/nvlist.c b/lib/libnv/nvlist.c
index 299d60e8a0f..ba809f53a1c 100644
--- a/lib/libnv/nvlist.c
+++ b/lib/libnv/nvlist.c
@@ -125,8 +125,10 @@ nvlist_destroy(nvlist_t *nvl)
 
 	NVLIST_ASSERT(nvl);
 
-	while ((nvp = nvlist_first_nvpair(nvl)) != NULL)
+	while ((nvp = nvlist_first_nvpair(nvl)) != NULL) {
 		nvlist_remove_nvpair(nvl, nvp);
+		nvpair_free(nvp);
+	}
 	nvl->nvl_magic = 0;
 	free(nvl);