diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index c1ffe75439..e2b3f5d151 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -1721,6 +1721,7 @@ free_buf_options(buf, free_p_ff)
     clear_string_option(&buf->b_p_nf);
 #ifdef FEAT_SYN_HL
     clear_string_option(&buf->b_p_syn);
+    clear_string_option(&buf->b_p_spf);
     clear_string_option(&buf->b_p_spl);
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_SEARCHPATH