diff --git a/src/feature/control/control_cmd.c b/src/feature/control/control_cmd.c
index 5fceb404e3..c2d23243e5 100644
--- a/src/feature/control/control_cmd.c
+++ b/src/feature/control/control_cmd.c
@@ -323,10 +323,8 @@ handle_control_getconf(control_connection_t *conn,
     send_control_done(conn);
   }
 
-  SMARTLIST_FOREACH(answers, char *, cp, tor_free(cp));
-  smartlist_free(answers);
-  smartlist_free(unrecognized);
-
+  control_reply_free(answers);
+  control_reply_free(unrecognized);
   return 0;
 }