diff --git a/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.cc b/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.cc
index 83dfa9e4fe8c0..b9edf3f9b00f8 100644
--- a/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.cc
+++ b/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.cc
@@ -215,7 +215,6 @@ void Wasm::getFunctions() {
   _GET(__wasm_call_ctors);
 
   _GET(malloc);
-  _GET(free);
 #undef _GET
 
 #define _GET_PROXY(_fn) wasm_vm_->getFunction("proxy_" #_fn, &_fn##_);
@@ -252,8 +251,8 @@ void Wasm::getFunctions() {
   _GET_PROXY(on_delete);
 #undef _GET_PROXY
 
-  if (!malloc_ || !free_) {
-    throw WasmException("WASM missing malloc/free");
+  if (!malloc_) {
+    throw WasmException("WASM missing malloc");
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.h b/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.h
index 1a326e40eb276..3804d319c5b4c 100644
--- a/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.h
+++ b/source/extensions/common/wasm/wasm.h
@@ -197,7 +197,6 @@ class Wasm : public Logger::Loggable<Logger::Id::wasm>, public std::enable_share
   WasmCallVoid<0> __wasm_call_ctors_;
 
   WasmCallWord<1> malloc_;
-  WasmCallVoid<1> free_;
 
   // Calls into the VM.
   WasmCallWord<2> validate_configuration_;