diff --git a/iocore/hostdb/test_HostFile.cc b/iocore/hostdb/test_HostFile.cc
index 1f8cfe72156..68d645af140 100644
--- a/iocore/hostdb/test_HostFile.cc
+++ b/iocore/hostdb/test_HostFile.cc
@@ -175,5 +175,5 @@ HostDBRecord::alloc(swoc::TextView query_name, unsigned int rr_count, size_t srv
 void
 HostDBRecord::free()
 {
-  delete this;
+  std::free(this);
 }