diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/x11/juce_linux_XWindowSystem.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/x11/juce_linux_XWindowSystem.cpp
index 059e98e25d..2ea809908b 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/x11/juce_linux_XWindowSystem.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/x11/juce_linux_XWindowSystem.cpp
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ String XWindowSystemUtilities::Atoms::getName (::Display* display, Atom atom)
     if (atom == None)
         return "None";
 
-    return X11Symbols::getInstance()->xGetAtomName (display, atom);
+    return makeXFreePtr (X11Symbols::getInstance()->xGetAtomName (display, atom)).get();
 }
 
 bool XWindowSystemUtilities::Atoms::isMimeTypeFile (::Display* display, Atom atom)