diff --git a/src/devices/wifi/nm-iwd-manager.c b/src/devices/wifi/nm-iwd-manager.c
index 39c863a31e..28cae87b8c 100644
--- a/src/devices/wifi/nm-iwd-manager.c
+++ b/src/devices/wifi/nm-iwd-manager.c
@@ -634,15 +634,16 @@ connection_removed (NMSettings *settings,
 	gboolean mapped;
 	KnownNetworkData *data;
 	KnownNetworkId id;
+	gs_free char *ssid_str = NULL;
 
 	id.security = nm_wifi_connection_get_iwd_security (conn, &mapped);
 	if (!mapped)
 		return;
 
 	s_wireless = nm_connection_get_setting_wireless (conn);
-	id.name = _nm_utils_ssid_to_utf8 (nm_setting_wireless_get_ssid (s_wireless));
+	ssid_str = _nm_utils_ssid_to_utf8 (nm_setting_wireless_get_ssid (s_wireless));
+	id.name = ssid_str;
 	data = g_hash_table_lookup (priv->known_networks, &id);
-	g_free ((char *) id.name);
 	if (!data)
 		return;