diff --git a/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c b/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c
index 6977f0ab0eb..e6dac67e2ea 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/sndctl/sndctl.c
@@ -992,17 +992,10 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		argv++;
 	}
 
-	free_dev(dp);
-
 	if (show) {
-		/*
-		 * Re-read dev to reflect new state in case we changed some
-		 * property.
-		 */
-		dp = read_dev(path);
 		print_dev(dp);
-		free_dev(dp);
 	}
+	free_dev(dp);
 
 	return (0);
 }