diff --git a/changes/bug26435 b/changes/bug26435
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c281949349
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug26435
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+  o Major bugfixes:
+    - Fix a memory leak where directory authorities would leak a chunk
+      of memory for every router descriptor every time they considered
+      voting. This bug was taking down directory authorities due to
+      out-of-memory issues. Fixes bug 26435; bugfix on 0.3.3.6.
diff --git a/src/or/protover.c b/src/or/protover.c
index e4efe0a70b..0e8902196d 100644
--- a/src/or/protover.c
+++ b/src/or/protover.c
@@ -283,9 +283,12 @@ parse_protocol_list(const char *s)
 bool
 protover_contains_long_protocol_names(const char *s)
 {
-  if (!parse_protocol_list(s))
-    return true;
-  return false;
+  smartlist_t *list = parse_protocol_list(s);
+  if (!list)
+    return true; /* yes, has a dangerous name */
+  SMARTLIST_FOREACH(list, proto_entry_t *, ent, proto_entry_free(ent));
+  smartlist_free(list);
+  return false; /* no, looks fine */
 }
 
 /**