diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index 1ad9d622656a50..71d86d94f8d0b2 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -6409,9 +6409,7 @@ parser_regx_options(struct parser_params *parser)
 static void
 dispose_string(VALUE str)
 {
-    /* TODO: should use another API? */
-    if (RBASIC(str)->flags & RSTRING_NOEMBED)
-	xfree(RSTRING_PTR(str));
+    rb_str_free(str);
     rb_gc_force_recycle(str);
 }