diff --git a/trick_source/sim_services/VariableServer/src/VariableServerThread_commands.cpp b/trick_source/sim_services/VariableServer/src/VariableServerThread_commands.cpp
index 278b890d..f17769e4 100644
--- a/trick_source/sim_services/VariableServer/src/VariableServerThread_commands.cpp
+++ b/trick_source/sim_services/VariableServer/src/VariableServerThread_commands.cpp
@@ -42,10 +42,6 @@ int Trick::VariableServerThread::var_add(std::string in_name) {
     } else if ( new_ref->attr ) {
         if ( new_ref->attr->type == TRICK_STRUCTURED ) {
             message_publish(MSG_ERROR, "Variable Server: var_add cant add \"%s\" because its a composite variable.\n", in_name.c_str());
-            // Replace the REF2 object we got from ref_attributes with an error-ref.
-            if (new_ref->attr) {
-                free(new_ref->attr);
-            }
             free(new_ref);
             new_ref = make_error_ref(in_name);
         }