diff --git a/lightningd/peer_control.c b/lightningd/peer_control.c
index 6f2bbd936..89a23f7dc 100644
--- a/lightningd/peer_control.c
+++ b/lightningd/peer_control.c
@@ -106,6 +106,8 @@ void peer_fail_permanent(struct peer *peer, const u8 *msg)
 		    (int)tal_len(msg), (char *)msg);
 	peer->error = towire_error(peer, &all_channels, msg);
 	peer->owner = NULL;
+	if (taken(msg))
+		tal_free(msg);
 
 	if (peer_persists(peer))
 		drop_to_chain(peer);
diff --git a/lightningd/peer_control.h b/lightningd/peer_control.h
index fd0ce361b..8175e73aa 100644
--- a/lightningd/peer_control.h
+++ b/lightningd/peer_control.h
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ void add_peer(struct lightningd *ld, u64 unique_id,
 /* Peer has failed, but try reconnected. */
 PRINTF_FMT(2,3) void peer_fail_transient(struct peer *peer, const char *fmt,...);
 /* Peer has failed, give up on it. */
-void peer_fail_permanent(struct peer *peer, const u8 *msg);
+void peer_fail_permanent(struct peer *peer, const u8 *msg TAKES);
 /* Permanent error, but due to internal problems, not peer. */
 void peer_internal_error(struct peer *peer, const char *fmt, ...);