diff --git a/src/analysis/raster/qgsrelief.cpp b/src/analysis/raster/qgsrelief.cpp
index bb5f77e743e..513d8bbd6be 100644
--- a/src/analysis/raster/qgsrelief.cpp
+++ b/src/analysis/raster/qgsrelief.cpp
@@ -452,6 +452,9 @@ gdal::dataset_unique_ptr QgsRelief::openOutputFile( GDALDatasetH inputDataset, G
 
   //create three band raster (red, green, blue)
   gdal::dataset_unique_ptr outputDataset( GDALCreate( outputDriver, mOutputFile.toUtf8().constData(), xSize, ySize, 3, GDT_Byte, papszOptions ) );
+  CSLDestroy( papszOptions );
+  papszOptions = nullptr;
+
   if ( !outputDataset )
   {
     return nullptr;