diff --git a/src/network/networkd-route.c b/src/network/networkd-route.c
index 98370a9440..0236ac3262 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-route.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-route.c
@@ -128,9 +128,9 @@ static int route_new_static(Network *network, const char *filename, unsigned sec
         return 0;
 }
 
-void route_free(Route *route) {
+Route *route_free(Route *route) {
         if (!route)
-                return;
+                return NULL;
 
         if (route->network) {
                 LIST_REMOVE(routes, route->network->static_routes, route);
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void route_free(Route *route) {
 
         sd_event_source_unref(route->expire);
 
-        free(route);
+        return mfree(route);
 }
 
 void route_hash_func(const Route *route, struct siphash *state) {
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-route.h b/src/network/networkd-route.h
index cf637e67c2..bcd960e35f 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-route.h
+++ b/src/network/networkd-route.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ int route_compare_func(const Route *a, const Route *b);
 extern const struct hash_ops route_hash_ops;
 
 int route_new(Route **ret);
-void route_free(Route *route);
+Route *route_free(Route *route);
 int route_configure(Route *route, Link *link, link_netlink_message_handler_t callback, Route **ret);
 int route_remove(Route *route, Link *link, link_netlink_message_handler_t callback);