diff --git a/src/configfile.c b/src/configfile.c
index 51d5faaf..cf5c6b69 100644
--- a/src/configfile.c
+++ b/src/configfile.c
@@ -176,6 +176,7 @@ int config_read(char *file) {
     }
 
     fclose(fin);
+    free(buffer);
 
     /* fix the fullpath of the web root */
     realpath(config.web_root,path_buffer);
@@ -211,6 +212,26 @@ int config_read(char *file) {
 }
 
 
+/*
+ * config_close
+ *
+ * free up any memory used
+ */
+void config_close(void) {
+    CONFIGELEMENT *pce;
+    int err;
+
+    /* check to see if all required elements are satisfied */
+    free(config.configfile);
+    pce=config_elements;
+    err=0;
+    while((pce->config_element != -1)) {
+	if((pce->config_element) && (pce->type == CONFIG_TYPE_STRING)) 
+	    free(*((char**)pce->var));
+	pce++;
+    }
+}
+
 /*
  * config_write
  *
diff --git a/src/configfile.h b/src/configfile.h
index d8a80786..df6b4103 100644
--- a/src/configfile.h
+++ b/src/configfile.h
@@ -31,5 +31,6 @@ extern int config_auth(char *user, char *password);
 extern void config_handler(WS_CONNINFO *pwsc);
 extern void config_set_status(WS_CONNINFO *pwsc, int session, char *fmt, ...);
 extern int config_get_next_session(void);
+extern void config_close(void);
 
 #endif /* _CONFIGFILE_H_ */