diff --git a/cde/programs/dtstyle/ColorFile.c b/cde/programs/dtstyle/ColorFile.c
index 6f5e124b7..9e9042ed6 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtstyle/ColorFile.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtstyle/ColorFile.c
@@ -485,6 +485,8 @@ WriteOutPalette(
                                    pCurrentPalette->color[i].bg.blue);
            if(-1 == write(fd, temp, strlen(temp))) {
 		   perror(strerror(errno));
+		   XtFree(temp);
+		   close(fd);
 		   return(-1);
 	   }
        }