diff --git a/src/knot/server/zone-load.c b/src/knot/server/zone-load.c
index 9799a3a7b1231e1a31a434d9e1e10eecd35fa9cd..f6b64ac86f5c728cd5d80cf7e9d67cbddb236d71 100644
--- a/src/knot/server/zone-load.c
+++ b/src/knot/server/zone-load.c
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ fail:
 			new_zone->contents = NULL;
 		}
 
+		/* Disconnect config, caller is responsible for it. */
+		new_zone->conf = NULL;
 		zone_free(&new_zone);
 	}