diff --git a/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.cpp b/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.cpp
index 982adb4b5e..f427c3c6b0 100644
--- a/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.cpp
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ Wallet::Wallet() {
     auto nodeList = DependencyManager::get<NodeList>();
     auto ledger = DependencyManager::get<Ledger>();
     auto& packetReceiver = nodeList->getPacketReceiver();
+    _passphrase = new QString("");
 
     packetReceiver.registerListener(PacketType::ChallengeOwnership, this, "handleChallengeOwnershipPacket");
     packetReceiver.registerListener(PacketType::ChallengeOwnershipRequest, this, "handleChallengeOwnershipPacket");
@@ -359,6 +360,7 @@ void Wallet::clear() {
     // tell the provider we got nothing
     updateImageProvider();
     _passphrase->clear();
+    delete _passphrase;
 }
 
 Wallet::~Wallet() {
diff --git a/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.h b/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.h
index 8a7d6b8c07..665afd9a23 100644
--- a/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.h
+++ b/interface/src/commerce/Wallet.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ private:
     QByteArray _salt;
     QByteArray _iv;
     QByteArray _ckey;
-    QString* _passphrase { new QString("") };
+    QString* _passphrase { nullptr };
     bool _isOverridingServer { false };
 
     bool writeWallet(const QString& newPassphrase = QString(""));