diff --git a/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp b/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp
index f9ee0ab..e5acc60 100644
--- a/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp
+++ b/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp
@@ -7023,7 +7023,7 @@ int radio::nitzTimeReceivedInd(int slotId,
         }
 
         nitzTime = convertCharPtrToHidlString(resp);
-        free(resp);
+        memsetAndFreeStrings(1, resp);
 #if VDBG
         RLOGD("nitzTimeReceivedInd: nitzTime %s receivedTime %" PRId64, nitzTime.c_str(),
                 timeReceived);