diff --git a/src/lib/ares_init.c b/src/lib/ares_init.c
index bae7c72f..78a81b01 100644
--- a/src/lib/ares_init.c
+++ b/src/lib/ares_init.c
@@ -261,31 +261,6 @@ static ares_status_t init_by_defaults(ares_channel_t *channel)
   }
 
 error:
-  if (rc) {
-    if (channel->domains && channel->domains[0]) {
-      ares_free(channel->domains[0]);
-    }
-    if (channel->domains) {
-      ares_free(channel->domains);
-      channel->domains = NULL;
-    }
-
-    if (channel->lookups) {
-      ares_free(channel->lookups);
-      channel->lookups = NULL;
-    }
-
-    if (channel->resolvconf_path) {
-      ares_free(channel->resolvconf_path);
-      channel->resolvconf_path = NULL;
-    }
-
-    if (channel->hosts_path) {
-      ares_free(channel->hosts_path);
-      channel->hosts_path = NULL;
-    }
-  }
-
   if (hostname) {
     ares_free(hostname);
   }