diff --git a/RELNOTES b/RELNOTES
index 8f7943bb..1379d604 100644
--- a/RELNOTES
+++ b/RELNOTES
@@ -170,6 +170,10 @@ by Eric Young (eay@cryptsoft.com).
   in a pool are used.
   [ISC-Bugs #34487]
 
+- Add code to properly dereference a pointer in the dhclient code
+  on an error condition.
+  [ISC-Bugs #36194
+
 			Changes since 4.3.0rc1
 
 - None
diff --git a/client/dhclient.c b/client/dhclient.c
index 6d348c1e..12c42b79 100644
--- a/client/dhclient.c
+++ b/client/dhclient.c
@@ -2413,9 +2413,11 @@ make_client_options(struct client_state *client, struct client_lease *lease,
 						      dhcp_universe.code_hash,
 						      &code, 0, MDL) &&
 			      make_const_option_cache(&oc, &bp, NULL, len,
-						      option, MDL)))
-				log_error("can't make option cache");
-			else {
+						      option, MDL))) {
+				if (bp != NULL)
+					buffer_dereference(&bp, MDL);
+				log_error ("can't make option cache");
+			} else {
 				save_option(&dhcp_universe, *op, oc);
 				option_cache_dereference(&oc, MDL);
 			}