diff --git a/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc b/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc
index 68fdb961a5..8b962ce4f3 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ PluginInsert::set_count (uint32_t num)
 			if (require_state) {
 				XMLNode& state = _plugins[0]->get_state ();
 				p->set_state (state, Stateful::current_state_version);
+				delete &state;
 			}
 
 			if (active ()) {