diff --git a/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c b/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c
index 37bc07da895..d26455e1301 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/channel/http_client_filter.c
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@ static grpc_error *hc_mutate_op(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
         calld->on_complete = op->on_complete;
         op->on_complete = &calld->hc_on_complete;
         op->send_message = NULL;
+        grpc_slice_unref_internal(exec_ctx, path_with_query_slice);
       } else {
         /* Not all data is available. Fall back to POST. */
         gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG,