diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v b/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
index 409e7699b8..b66efc1129 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/cgen.v
@@ -512,6 +512,12 @@ fn (g mut Gen) gen_assign_stmt(assign_stmt ast.AssignStmt) {
 					g.expr(val)
 					g.write(')')
 				}
+				else if g.autofree && right_sym.kind == .string && is_ident {
+					// `str1 = str2` => `str1 = str2.clone()`
+					g.write(' = string_clone(')
+					g.expr(val)
+					g.write(')')
+				}
 				else if !is_fixed_array_init {
 					g.write(' = ')
 					if !is_decl {
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/1.vv b/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/1.vv
index c90973b34e..c4e73b9a14 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/1.vv
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/valgrind/1.vv
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ fn foo() {
 	nums_copy := nums // array assignments call .clone()
 	println(nums)
 	println(nums_copy)
-	nums.free()
+	// nums.free() // this should result in a double free and a CI error
 }
 
 fn main() {