diff --git a/src/xspice/mif/mifmpara.c b/src/xspice/mif/mifmpara.c
index 5fb0b8a2e..7b5a1fb97 100644
--- a/src/xspice/mif/mifmpara.c
+++ b/src/xspice/mif/mifmpara.c
@@ -109,6 +109,8 @@ int MIFmParam(
 
     /* initialize the parameter is_null and size elements and allocate elements */
     model->param[param_index]->is_null = MIF_FALSE;
+    /* element may exist already, if called from 'altermod' */
+    FREE(model->param[param_index]->element);
     if(is_array) {
         model->param[param_index]->size = value->v.numValue;
         model->param[param_index]->element = TMALLOC(Mif_Value_t, value->v.numValue);