diff --git a/internal/native/message_server.go b/internal/native/message_server.go
index 4afa4ce27..700aa4f67 100644
--- a/internal/native/message_server.go
+++ b/internal/native/message_server.go
@@ -121,20 +121,18 @@ func (m *Message) GivenWithParameter(state string, params map[string]interface{}
 	defer free(cState)
 
 	if len(params) == 0 {
-		cState := C.CString(state)
-		defer free(cState)
-
 		C.pactffi_given(m.handle, cState)
 	} else {
 		for k, v := range params {
 			cKey := C.CString(k)
-			defer free(cKey)
+
 			param := stringFromInterface(v)
 			cValue := C.CString(param)
-			defer free(cValue)
 
 			C.pactffi_given_with_param(m.handle, cState, cKey, cValue)
 
+			free(cValue)
+			free(cKey)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -152,18 +150,18 @@ func (m *Message) ExpectsToReceive(description string) *Message {
 
 func (m *Message) WithMetadata(valueOrMatcher map[string]string) *Message {
 	for k, v := range valueOrMatcher {
-
 		cName := C.CString(k)
-		defer free(cName)
 
 		// TODO: check if matching rules allowed here
 		// value := stringFromInterface(v)
 		// fmt.Printf("withheaders, sending: %+v \n\n", value)
 		// cValue := C.CString(value)
 		cValue := C.CString(v)
-		defer free(cValue)
 
 		C.pactffi_message_with_metadata(m.handle, cName, cValue)
+
+		free(cValue)
+		free(cName)
 	}
 
 	return m
@@ -237,7 +235,7 @@ func (m *MessageServer) UsingPlugin(pluginName string, pluginVersion string) err
 	defer free(cPluginName)
 	cPluginVersion := C.CString(pluginVersion)
 	defer free(cPluginVersion)
-	
+
 	r := C.pactffi_using_plugin(m.messagePact.handle, cPluginName, cPluginVersion)
 	InstallSignalHandlers()
 
diff --git a/internal/native/mock_server.go b/internal/native/mock_server.go
index 0f13c22ab..c8022cfa1 100644
--- a/internal/native/mock_server.go
+++ b/internal/native/mock_server.go
@@ -500,13 +500,13 @@ func (i *Interaction) GivenWithParameter(state string, params map[string]interfa
 
 	for k, v := range params {
 		cKey := C.CString(k)
-		defer free(cKey)
 		param := stringFromInterface(v)
 		cValue := C.CString(param)
-		defer free(cValue)
 
 		C.pactffi_given_with_param(i.handle, cState, cKey, cValue)
 
+		free(cValue)
+		free(cKey)
 	}
 
 	return i
@@ -535,18 +535,18 @@ func (i *Interaction) WithResponseHeaders(valueOrMatcher map[string][]interface{
 
 func (i *Interaction) withHeaders(part interactionPart, valueOrMatcher map[string][]interface{}) *Interaction {
 	for k, v := range valueOrMatcher {
-
 		cName := C.CString(k)
-		defer free(cName)
 
 		for _, header := range v {
 			value := stringFromInterface(header)
 			cValue := C.CString(value)
-			defer free(cValue)
 
 			C.pactffi_with_header_v2(i.handle, C.int(part), cName, C.ulong(0), cValue)
+
+			free(cValue)
 		}
 
+		free(cName)
 	}
 
 	return i
@@ -554,17 +554,18 @@ func (i *Interaction) withHeaders(part interactionPart, valueOrMatcher map[strin
 
 func (i *Interaction) WithQuery(valueOrMatcher map[string][]interface{}) *Interaction {
 	for k, values := range valueOrMatcher {
-
 		cName := C.CString(k)
-		defer free(cName)
 
 		for idx, v := range values {
 			value := stringFromInterface(v)
 			cValue := C.CString(value)
-			defer free(cValue)
 
 			C.pactffi_with_query_parameter_v2(i.handle, cName, C.ulong(idx), cValue)
+
+			free(cValue)
 		}
+
+		free(cName)
 	}
 
 	return i