diff --git a/src/sharedspice.c b/src/sharedspice.c
index bafb5264b..c6f55f44a 100644
--- a/src/sharedspice.c
+++ b/src/sharedspice.c
@@ -443,8 +443,6 @@ void
 exec_controls(wordlist *newcontrols)
 {
     if (newcontrols) {
-        if (shcontrols)
-            wl_free(shcontrols);
         shcontrols = newcontrols;
     }
 #ifdef THREADS