diff --git a/ospfd/ospf_vty.c b/ospfd/ospf_vty.c
index 01cbfedc1c0d..3be3de24cf38 100644
--- a/ospfd/ospf_vty.c
+++ b/ospfd/ospf_vty.c
@@ -748,6 +748,8 @@ DEFUN (no_ospf_area_range,
 
 	ospf_area_range_unset(ospf, area, area->ranges, &p);
 
+	ospf_area_check_free(ospf, area_id);
+
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }