diff --git a/sys/netgraph7/ng_split.c b/sys/netgraph7/ng_split.c
--- a/sys/netgraph7/ng_split.c
+++ b/sys/netgraph7/ng_split.c
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@
 
 	if (hook == priv->out) {
 		kprintf("ng_split: got packet from out hook!\n");
-		NG_FREE_ITEM(item);
 		error = EINVAL;
 	} else if ((hook == priv->in) && (priv->mixed != NULL)) {
 		NG_FWD_ITEM_HOOK(error, item, priv->mixed);