diff --git a/plugins/in_nginx_exporter_metrics/nginx.c b/plugins/in_nginx_exporter_metrics/nginx.c
index 9645fca8e75..bee495e23f8 100644
--- a/plugins/in_nginx_exporter_metrics/nginx.c
+++ b/plugins/in_nginx_exporter_metrics/nginx.c
@@ -1550,6 +1550,8 @@ struct nginx_ctx *nginx_ctx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
 
     if (!upstream) {
         flb_plg_error(ins, "upstream initialization error");
+        cmt_destroy(ctx->cmt);
+        flb_free(ctx);
         return NULL;
     }
     ctx->upstream = upstream;
@@ -1570,6 +1572,7 @@ static int nginx_collect(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
     FLB_INPUT_RETURN(rc);
 }
 
+static int nginx_ctx_destroy(struct nginx_ctx *ctx);
 /**
  * Callback function to initialize nginx metrics plugin
  *
@@ -1585,6 +1588,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
     struct nginx_ctx *ctx = NULL;
     struct cmt_counter *c;
     struct cmt_gauge *g;
+    int ret = -1;
 
     /* Allocate space for the configuration */
     ctx = nginx_ctx_init(ins, config);
@@ -1604,7 +1608,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                        "Accepted client connections", 0, 
                                                        NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_accepted == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(ctx->connections_accepted);
 
@@ -1612,7 +1616,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                    "active", "active client connections", 
                                                    0, NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_active == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
 
         ctx->connections_handled = cmt_counter_create(ctx->cmt, "nginx", "connections",
@@ -1620,7 +1624,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                       "Handled client connections", 0, 
                                                       NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_handled == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(ctx->connections_handled);
 
@@ -1629,7 +1633,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                     "reading client connections",
                                                     0, NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_reading == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
 
         ctx->connections_writing = cmt_gauge_create(ctx->cmt, "nginx", "connections",
@@ -1637,7 +1641,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                     "writing client connections",
                                                     0, NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_writing == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
 
         ctx->connections_waiting = cmt_gauge_create(ctx->cmt, "nginx", "connections",
@@ -1645,14 +1649,14 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                     "waiting client connections",
                                                     0, NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_waiting == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
 
         ctx->connections_total = cmt_counter_create(ctx->cmt, "nginx", "http",
                                                     "requests_total", 
                                                     "Total http requests", 0, NULL);
         if (ctx->connections_total == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(ctx->connections_total);
 
@@ -1678,7 +1682,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "1 for a successful scrape and 0 for a failed "
                              "one", 0, NULL);
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->connection_up = g;
 
@@ -1687,7 +1691,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_connections->connections_accepted = c;
@@ -1698,7 +1702,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_connections->connections_dropped = c;
@@ -1708,7 +1712,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_connections->connections_active = c;
@@ -1718,7 +1722,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_connections->connections_idle = c;
@@ -1728,7 +1732,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_ssl->handshakes = c;
@@ -1738,7 +1742,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_ssl->handshakes_failed = c;
@@ -1748,7 +1752,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_ssl->session_reuses = c;
@@ -1758,7 +1762,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                                0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_http_requests->total = c;
@@ -1768,7 +1772,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Plus Total Connections",
                               0, NULL);
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->plus_http_requests->current = c;
@@ -1780,7 +1784,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone discarded",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->server_zones->discarded = c;
@@ -1792,7 +1796,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone processing",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->server_zones->processing = c;
@@ -1804,7 +1808,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone received",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->server_zones->received = c;
@@ -1816,7 +1820,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone requests",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->server_zones->requests = c;
@@ -1828,7 +1832,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone responses",
                                2, (char *[]){"server_zone", "code"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->server_zones->responses = c;
@@ -1840,7 +1844,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone sent",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->server_zones->sent = c;
@@ -1852,7 +1856,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone discarded",
                                1, (char *[]){"location_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->location_zones->discarded = c;
@@ -1864,7 +1868,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone received",
                                1, (char *[]){"location_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->location_zones->received = c;
@@ -1876,7 +1880,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone requests",
                                1, (char *[]){"location_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->location_zones->requests = c;
@@ -1888,7 +1892,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone responses",
                                2, (char *[]){"location_zone", "code"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->location_zones->responses = c;
@@ -1900,7 +1904,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Server Zone sent",
                                1, (char *[]){"location_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->location_zones->sent = c;
@@ -1912,7 +1916,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Keepalives",
                              1, (char *[]){"upstream"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->keepalives = g;
 
@@ -1923,7 +1927,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Zombies",
                              1, (char *[]){"upstream"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->zombies = g;
 
@@ -1934,7 +1938,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Active",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->active = g;
 
@@ -1945,7 +1949,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Fails",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->upstreams->fails = c;
@@ -1957,7 +1961,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Header Time",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->header_time = g;
         
@@ -1968,7 +1972,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Limit",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->limit = g;
 
@@ -1979,7 +1983,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Received",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->upstreams->received = c;
@@ -1991,7 +1995,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Requests",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);                                            
         ctx->upstreams->requests = c;
@@ -2003,7 +2007,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                               "NGINX Upstream Responses",
                               3, (char *[]){"code", "upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->upstreams->responses = c;
@@ -2015,7 +2019,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Response Time",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->response_time = g;
 
@@ -2026,7 +2030,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Sent",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->upstreams->sent = c;
@@ -2038,7 +2042,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                  "NGINX Upstream State",
                                                  2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->upstreams->state = g;
 
@@ -2049,7 +2053,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                               "NGINX Upstream Unavailable",
                               2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->upstreams->unavail = c;
@@ -2061,7 +2065,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Stream Server Zone connections",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->streams->connections = c;
@@ -2073,7 +2077,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Stream Server Zone discarded",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->streams->discarded = c;
@@ -2086,7 +2090,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "processing",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->streams->processing = c;
@@ -2098,7 +2102,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Stream Server Zone received",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->streams->received = c;
@@ -2110,7 +2114,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Stream Server Zone sent",
                                1, (char *[]){"server_zone"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->streams->sent = c;
@@ -2122,7 +2126,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Stream Server Zone Sessions",
                                2, (char *[]){"server_zone", "code"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->streams->sessions = c;
@@ -2134,7 +2138,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Zombies",
                              1, (char *[]){"upstream"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->zombies = g;
 
@@ -2145,7 +2149,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Active",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->active = g;
 
@@ -2156,7 +2160,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Fails",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->stream_upstreams->fails = c;
@@ -2168,7 +2172,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Limit",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->limit = g;
 
@@ -2179,7 +2183,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Received",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->stream_upstreams->received = c;
@@ -2191,7 +2195,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Header Time",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream", "server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->connect_time = g;
 
@@ -2202,7 +2206,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Header Time",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream", "server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->first_byte_time = g;
 
@@ -2213,7 +2217,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Requests",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->stream_upstreams->connections = c;
@@ -2225,7 +2229,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream Response Time",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->response_time = g;
 
@@ -2236,7 +2240,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Sent",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->stream_upstreams->sent = c;
@@ -2248,7 +2252,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                              "NGINX Upstream State",
                              2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (g == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         ctx->stream_upstreams->state = g;
 
@@ -2259,7 +2263,7 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                "NGINX Upstream Unavailable",
                                2, (char *[]){"upstream","server"});
         if (c == NULL) {
-            return -1;
+            goto nginx_init_end;
         }
         cmt_counter_allow_reset(c);
         ctx->stream_upstreams->unavail = c;
@@ -2269,7 +2273,13 @@ static int nginx_init(struct flb_input_instance *ins,
                                                 nginx_collect,
                                                 1,
                                                 0, config);
-    return 0;
+    ret = 0;
+ nginx_init_end:
+    if (ret < 0) {
+        nginx_ctx_destroy(ctx);
+    }
+
+    return ret;
 }