diff --git a/include/fluent-bit/flb_kernel.h b/include/fluent-bit/flb_kernel.h
index 21a9d05c808..116b4a79d9a 100644
--- a/include/fluent-bit/flb_kernel.h
+++ b/include/fluent-bit/flb_kernel.h
@@ -35,5 +35,6 @@ struct flb_kernel {
 };
 
 struct flb_kernel *flb_kernel_info();
+void flb_kernel_destroy(struct flb_kernel *kernel);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/flb_config.c b/src/flb_config.c
index 459ff8197dd..a0feb73b3f2 100644
--- a/src/flb_config.c
+++ b/src/flb_config.c
@@ -393,8 +393,7 @@ void flb_config_exit(struct flb_config *config)
     }
 
     if (config->kernel) {
-        flb_free(config->kernel->s_version.data);
-        flb_free(config->kernel);
+        flb_kernel_destroy(config->kernel);
     }
 
     /* release resources */
diff --git a/src/flb_kernel.c b/src/flb_kernel.c
index 5e5fa886abb..d29ba922fe9 100644
--- a/src/flb_kernel.c
+++ b/src/flb_kernel.c
@@ -147,3 +147,15 @@ struct flb_kernel *flb_kernel_info()
 }
 
 #endif
+
+void flb_kernel_destroy(struct flb_kernel *kernel)
+{
+    if (kernel == NULL) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (kernel->s_version.data) {
+        flb_free(kernel->s_version.data);
+    }
+    flb_free(kernel);
+}