diff --git a/src/text.c b/src/text.c
index 16c48fdf..7442cee7 100644
--- a/src/text.c
+++ b/src/text.c
@@ -2717,7 +2717,7 @@ void do_spell(void)
 		else
 			statusline(ALERT, _("Spell checking failed: %s: %s"), result_msg,
 												strerror(errno));
-		free(result_msg);
+		/* Don't try to free the result message; see bug #56188. */
 	} else
 		statusbar(_("Finished checking spelling"));
 }