diff --git a/harbour/source/vm/arrays.c b/harbour/source/vm/arrays.c
index fc7ebac2e7..05aa1ff923 100644
--- a/harbour/source/vm/arrays.c
+++ b/harbour/source/vm/arrays.c
@@ -914,8 +914,8 @@ HB_GARBAGE_FUNC( hb_arrayReleaseGarbage )
           * Arrays, objects and codeblock should be released directly by
           * the garbage collector
           */
-         if( HB_IS_STRING( pItem ) && pItem->item.asString.value && pItem->item.asString.bPcode )
-            hb_xfree( pItem->item.asString.value );
+         if( HB_IS_STRING( pItem ) )
+            hb_itemClear( pItem );
 
          ++pItem;
       }
@@ -923,4 +923,4 @@ HB_GARBAGE_FUNC( hb_arrayReleaseGarbage )
       pBaseArray->pItems = NULL;
       pBaseArray->ulLen  = 0;
    }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file