diff --git a/vlib/x/json2/decoder.v b/vlib/x/json2/decoder.v
index f06ecabdce..1c749f06b0 100644
--- a/vlib/x/json2/decoder.v
+++ b/vlib/x/json2/decoder.v
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ fn (mut p Parser) decode_string() ?Any {
 	}
 	p.next()
 	defer {
-		strwr.free()
+		unsafe { strwr.free() }
 	}
 	str := strwr.str()
 	return Any(str)
diff --git a/vlib/x/json2/encoder.v b/vlib/x/json2/encoder.v
index f107d5dd36..c929c7e160 100644
--- a/vlib/x/json2/encoder.v
+++ b/vlib/x/json2/encoder.v
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ pub fn (flds map[string]Any) str() string {
 	}
 	wr.write_b(`}`)
 	defer {
-		wr.free()
+		unsafe { wr.free() }
 	}
 	res := wr.str()
 	return res
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ pub fn (flds []Any) str() string {
 	}
 	wr.write_b(`]`)
 	defer {
-		wr.free()
+		unsafe { wr.free() }
 	}
 	res := wr.str()
 	return res