diff --git a/hostapd/config_file.c b/hostapd/config_file.c
index ed1478c8e..e1f9f640c 100644
--- a/hostapd/config_file.c
+++ b/hostapd/config_file.c
@@ -517,15 +517,10 @@ static int hostapd_config_read_eap_user(const char *fname,
 	fclose(f);
 
 	if (ret == 0) {
-		user = conf->eap_user;
-		while (user) {
-			struct hostapd_eap_user *prev;
-
-			prev = user;
-			user = user->next;
-			hostapd_config_free_eap_user(prev);
-		}
+		hostapd_config_free_eap_users(conf->eap_user);
 		conf->eap_user = new_user;
+	} else {
+		hostapd_config_free_eap_users(new_user);
 	}
 
 	return ret;
diff --git a/src/ap/ap_config.c b/src/ap/ap_config.c
index c532bf03d..3f5e58bb8 100644
--- a/src/ap/ap_config.c
+++ b/src/ap/ap_config.c
@@ -382,6 +382,18 @@ void hostapd_config_free_eap_user(struct hostapd_eap_user *user)
 }
 
 
+void hostapd_config_free_eap_users(struct hostapd_eap_user *user)
+{
+	struct hostapd_eap_user *prev_user;
+
+	while (user) {
+		prev_user = user;
+		user = user->next;
+		hostapd_config_free_eap_user(prev_user);
+	}
+}
+
+
 static void hostapd_config_free_wep(struct hostapd_wep_keys *keys)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -434,8 +446,6 @@ static void hostapd_config_free_fils_realms(struct hostapd_bss_config *conf)
 
 void hostapd_config_free_bss(struct hostapd_bss_config *conf)
 {
-	struct hostapd_eap_user *user, *prev_user;
-
 	if (conf == NULL)
 		return;
 
@@ -448,12 +458,7 @@ void hostapd_config_free_bss(struct hostapd_bss_config *conf)
 	os_free(conf->ssid.vlan_tagged_interface);
 #endif /* CONFIG_FULL_DYNAMIC_VLAN */
 
-	user = conf->eap_user;
-	while (user) {
-		prev_user = user;
-		user = user->next;
-		hostapd_config_free_eap_user(prev_user);
-	}
+	hostapd_config_free_eap_users(conf->eap_user);
 	os_free(conf->eap_user_sqlite);
 
 	os_free(conf->eap_req_id_text);
diff --git a/src/ap/ap_config.h b/src/ap/ap_config.h
index 69801d35e..97ec0d4e4 100644
--- a/src/ap/ap_config.h
+++ b/src/ap/ap_config.h
@@ -732,6 +732,7 @@ int hostapd_mac_comp(const void *a, const void *b);
 struct hostapd_config * hostapd_config_defaults(void);
 void hostapd_config_defaults_bss(struct hostapd_bss_config *bss);
 void hostapd_config_free_eap_user(struct hostapd_eap_user *user);
+void hostapd_config_free_eap_users(struct hostapd_eap_user *user);
 void hostapd_config_clear_wpa_psk(struct hostapd_wpa_psk **p);
 void hostapd_config_free_bss(struct hostapd_bss_config *conf);
 void hostapd_config_free(struct hostapd_config *conf);