diff --git a/samples/damon/wsse.c b/samples/damon/wsse.c
index 799ad4443943..bbd9392ab5b3 100644
--- a/samples/damon/wsse.c
+++ b/samples/damon/wsse.c
@@ -87,8 +87,10 @@ static int damon_sample_wsse_start(void)
 	target->pid = target_pidp;
 
 	err = damon_start(&ctx, 1, true);
-	if (err)
+	if (err) {
+		damon_destroy_ctx(ctx);
 		return err;
+	}
 	repeat_call_control.data = ctx;
 	return damon_call(ctx, &repeat_call_control);
 }