diff --git a/parson.c b/parson.c
index 384280e..a6288fa 100644
--- a/parson.c
+++ b/parson.c
@@ -669,8 +669,13 @@ static JSON_Value * parse_object_value(const char **string, size_t nesting) {
     }
     while (**string != '\0') {
         new_key = get_quoted_string(string);
+        if (new_key == NULL) {
+            json_value_free(output_value);
+            return NULL;
+        }
         SKIP_WHITESPACES(string);
-        if (new_key == NULL || **string != ':') {
+        if (**string != ':') {
+            parson_free(new_key);
             json_value_free(output_value);
             return NULL;
         }