diff --git a/builtins/read.def b/builtins/read.def
index 33821f3..803bea3 100644
--- a/builtins/read.def
+++ b/builtins/read.def
@@ -690,6 +690,11 @@ add_char:
   input_string[i] = '\0';
   CHECK_ALRM;
 
+#if defined (READLINE)
+  if (edit)
+    free (rlbuf);
+#endif
+
   if (retval < 0)
     {
       t_errno = errno;
diff --git a/patchlevel.h b/patchlevel.h
index 9074f4d..98e714d 100644
--- a/patchlevel.h
+++ b/patchlevel.h
@@ -25,6 +25,6 @@
    regexp `^#define[ 	]*PATCHLEVEL', since that's what support/mkversion.sh
    looks for to find the patch level (for the sccs version string). */
 
-#define PATCHLEVEL 16
+#define PATCHLEVEL 17
 
 #endif /* _PATCHLEVEL_H_ */