diff --git a/src/core/lib/security/security_connector/load_system_roots_linux.cc b/src/core/lib/security/security_connector/load_system_roots_linux.cc
index 61b0b9be5b9..d568d1f3ad2 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/security/security_connector/load_system_roots_linux.cc
+++ b/src/core/lib/security/security_connector/load_system_roots_linux.cc
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ grpc_slice GetSystemRootCerts() {
     } else {
       GRPC_ERROR_UNREF(error);
     }
+    GRPC_ERROR_UNREF(error);
   }
   return grpc_empty_slice();
 }