diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/rc/havefork.c b/sys/src/cmd/rc/havefork.c
index 4cf148fd3..ea34acc3d 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/rc/havefork.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/rc/havefork.c
@@ -129,8 +129,7 @@ Xbackq(void)
 			*s='\0';
 			v = newword(wd, v);
 		}
-		if(wd)
-			efree(wd);
+		free(wd);
 		closeio(f);
 		Waitfor(pid, 0);
 		/* v points to reversed arglist -- reverse it onto argv */
@@ -230,4 +229,4 @@ execforkexec(void)
 	}
 	addwaitpid(pid);
 	return pid;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/rc/haventfork.c b/sys/src/cmd/rc/haventfork.c
index ed184b573..52c16ac65 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/rc/haventfork.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/rc/haventfork.c
@@ -108,8 +108,7 @@ Xbackq(void)
 		*s='\0';
 		v=newword(wd, v);
 	}
-	if(wd)
-		efree(wd);
+	free(wd);
 	closeio(f);
 	Waitfor(pid, 1);
 	/* v points to reversed arglist -- reverse it onto argv */