diff --git a/zathura/utils.c b/zathura/utils.c
index ec25be68..28b1641d 100644
--- a/zathura/utils.c
+++ b/zathura/utils.c
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ void index_scroll_to_current_page(zathura_t* zathura) {
   gtk_tree_model_foreach(model, search_current_index, &search_data);
 
   GtkTreePath* current_path = gtk_tree_model_get_path(model, &search_data.current_iter);
+  g_free(zathura->global.current_index_path);
   zathura->global.current_index_path = gtk_tree_path_to_string(current_path);
   gtk_tree_view_expand_to_path(tree_view, current_path);
 
diff --git a/zathura/zathura.c b/zathura/zathura.c
index 244989f7..5b21ea07 100644
--- a/zathura/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura/zathura.c
@@ -1513,6 +1513,9 @@ bool document_close(zathura_t* zathura, bool keep_monitor) {
     zathura->ui.index = NULL;
   }
 
+  /* free current index path */
+  g_free(zathura->global.current_index_path);
+
   gtk_widget_hide(zathura->ui.page_widget);
 
   statusbar_page_number_update(zathura);
diff --git a/zathura/zathura.h b/zathura/zathura.h
index 604246ff..21f7da92 100644
--- a/zathura/zathura.h
+++ b/zathura/zathura.h
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ struct zathura_s {
     GdkModifierType synctex_edit_modmask; /**< Modifier to trigger synctex edit */
     GdkModifierType highlighter_modmask;  /**< Modifier to draw with a highlighter */
     bool double_click_follow;             /**< Double/Single click to follow link */
-    char *current_index_path;
+    gchar *current_index_path;
   } global;
 
   struct {