diff --git a/include/osmocom/core/soft_uart.h b/include/osmocom/core/soft_uart.h
index 36a43fe..4f9c1fc 100644
--- a/include/osmocom/core/soft_uart.h
+++ b/include/osmocom/core/soft_uart.h
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@
 struct osmo_soft_uart;
 
 struct osmo_soft_uart *osmo_soft_uart_alloc(void *ctx, const char *name);
+void osmo_soft_uart_free(struct osmo_soft_uart *suart);
 int osmo_soft_uart_configure(struct osmo_soft_uart *suart, const struct osmo_soft_uart_cfg *cfg);
 int osmo_soft_uart_enable(struct osmo_soft_uart *suart, bool rx, bool tx);
 
diff --git a/src/core/libosmocore.map b/src/core/libosmocore.map
index c08d3ff..142e4c4 100644
--- a/src/core/libosmocore.map
+++ b/src/core/libosmocore.map
@@ -440,6 +440,7 @@
 osmo_sock_unix_init;
 osmo_sock_unix_init_ofd;
 osmo_soft_uart_alloc;
+osmo_soft_uart_free;
 osmo_soft_uart_configure;
 osmo_soft_uart_enable;
 osmo_soft_uart_rx_ubits;
diff --git a/src/core/soft_uart.c b/src/core/soft_uart.c
index 22292af..7860453 100644
--- a/src/core/soft_uart.c
+++ b/src/core/soft_uart.c
@@ -220,6 +220,20 @@
 	return suart;
 }
 
+/*! Release memory taken by the given soft-UART.
+ * \param[in] suart soft-UART instance to be free()d. */
+void osmo_soft_uart_free(struct osmo_soft_uart *suart)
+{
+	if (suart == NULL)
+		return;
+
+	osmo_timer_del(&suart->rx.timer);
+	msgb_free(suart->rx.msg);
+
+	talloc_free((void *)suart->name);
+	talloc_free(suart);
+}
+
 /*! change soft-UART configuration to user-provided config */
 int osmo_soft_uart_configure(struct osmo_soft_uart *suart, const struct osmo_soft_uart_cfg *cfg)
 {