diff --git a/editor/filesystem_dock.cpp b/editor/filesystem_dock.cpp
index 93e9cc58fb3..62effb406d2 100644
--- a/editor/filesystem_dock.cpp
+++ b/editor/filesystem_dock.cpp
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ bool FileSystemDock::_create_tree(TreeItem *p_parent, EditorFileSystemDirectory
 			subdirectory_item->set_collapsed(false);
 		} else if (dname != "res://") {
 			subdirectory_item->get_parent()->remove_child(subdirectory_item);
+			memdelete(subdirectory_item);
 		}
 	}