diff --git a/blockchain/claimtrie.go b/blockchain/claimtrie.go
index 9605b398..b0ce8443 100644
--- a/blockchain/claimtrie.go
+++ b/blockchain/claimtrie.go
@@ -65,11 +65,13 @@ func (h *handler) handleTxIns(ct *claimtrie.ClaimTrie) error {
 		if e == nil {
 			return errors.Errorf("missing input in view for %s", op.String())
 		}
-		cs, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(e.pkScript)
+		cs, closer, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(e.pkScript)
 		if err == txscript.ErrNotClaimScript {
+			closer()
 			continue
 		}
 		if err != nil {
+			closer()
 			return err
 		}
 
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ func (h *handler) handleTxIns(ct *claimtrie.ClaimTrie) error {
 			copy(id[:], cs.ClaimID())
 			err = ct.SpendSupport(name, op, id)
 		}
+		closer()
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "handleTxIns")
 		}
@@ -99,11 +102,13 @@ func (h *handler) handleTxIns(ct *claimtrie.ClaimTrie) error {
 func (h *handler) handleTxOuts(ct *claimtrie.ClaimTrie) error {
 	for i, txOut := range h.tx.MsgTx().TxOut {
 		op := *wire.NewOutPoint(h.tx.Hash(), uint32(i))
-		cs, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(txOut.PkScript)
+		cs, closer, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(txOut.PkScript)
 		if err == txscript.ErrNotClaimScript {
+			closer()
 			continue
 		}
 		if err != nil {
+			closer()
 			return err
 		}
 
@@ -127,12 +132,14 @@ func (h *handler) handleTxOuts(ct *claimtrie.ClaimTrie) error {
 			if !bytes.Equal(h.spent[id.Key()], normName) {
 				node.LogOnce(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid update operation: name or ID mismatch at %d for: %s, %s",
 					ct.Height(), normName, id.String()))
+				closer()
 				continue
 			}
 
 			delete(h.spent, id.Key())
 			err = ct.UpdateClaim(name, op, amt, id)
 		}
+		closer()
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "handleTxOuts")
 		}
diff --git a/blockchain/scriptval.go b/blockchain/scriptval.go
index 8ba59a42..ac81c126 100644
--- a/blockchain/scriptval.go
+++ b/blockchain/scriptval.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ out:
 					txIn.PreviousOutPoint, err, witness,
 					sigScript, pkScript)
 				err := ruleError(ErrScriptMalformed, str)
+				vm.Close()
 				v.sendResult(err)
 				break out
 			}
@@ -100,11 +101,13 @@ out:
 					txIn.PreviousOutPoint, err, witness,
 					sigScript, pkScript)
 				err := ruleError(ErrScriptValidation, str)
+				vm.Close()
 				v.sendResult(err)
 				break out
 			}
 
 			// Validation succeeded.
+			vm.Close()
 			v.sendResult(nil)
 
 		case <-v.quitChan:
diff --git a/claimtrie/cmd/cmd/chain.go b/claimtrie/cmd/cmd/chain.go
index f792e5f9..d82b3fa5 100644
--- a/claimtrie/cmd/cmd/chain.go
+++ b/claimtrie/cmd/cmd/chain.go
@@ -343,8 +343,9 @@ func (cb *chainConverter) processBlock() {
 			for _, txIn := range tx.MsgTx().TxIn {
 				prevOutpoint := txIn.PreviousOutPoint
 				pkScript := utxoPubScripts[prevOutpoint]
-				cs, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(pkScript)
+				cs, closer, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(pkScript)
 				if err == txscript.ErrNotClaimScript {
+					closer()
 					continue
 				}
 				if err != nil {
@@ -371,12 +372,14 @@ func (cb *chainConverter) processBlock() {
 				}
 
 				changes = append(changes, chg)
+				closer()
 			}
 
 			op := *wire.NewOutPoint(tx.Hash(), 0)
 			for i, txOut := range tx.MsgTx().TxOut {
-				cs, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(txOut.PkScript)
+				cs, closer, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(txOut.PkScript)
 				if err == txscript.ErrNotClaimScript {
+					closer()
 					continue
 				}
 
@@ -401,6 +404,7 @@ func (cb *chainConverter) processBlock() {
 					copy(chg.ClaimID[:], cs.ClaimID())
 				}
 				changes = append(changes, chg)
+				closer()
 			}
 		}
 		cb.stat.blocksProcessed++
diff --git a/rpcclaimtrie.go b/rpcclaimtrie.go
index 0677637b..6a90152e 100644
--- a/rpcclaimtrie.go
+++ b/rpcclaimtrie.go
@@ -323,7 +323,8 @@ func lookupValue(s *rpcServer, outpoint wire.OutPoint, includeValues *bool) (str
 	}
 
 	txo := msgTx.TxOut[outpoint.Index]
-	cs, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(txo.PkScript)
+	cs, closer, err := txscript.DecodeClaimScript(txo.PkScript)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		context := "Failed to decode the claim script"
 		return "", "", internalRPCError(err.Error(), context)
diff --git a/txscript/engine.go b/txscript/engine.go
index b6981c8c..d7bd1003 100644
--- a/txscript/engine.go
+++ b/txscript/engine.go
@@ -136,6 +136,20 @@ type Engine struct {
 	witnessVersion  int
 	witnessProgram  []byte
 	inputAmount     int64
+	cleanups        []func()
+}
+
+func (vm *Engine) Close() {
+	for i := range vm.cleanups {
+		vm.cleanups[i]()
+	}
+	vm.cleanups = nil
+	vm.scripts = nil
+	vm.savedFirstStack = nil
+	vm.witnessProgram = nil
+	vm.condStack = nil
+	vm.sigCache = nil
+	vm.hashCache = nil
 }
 
 // hasFlag returns whether the script engine instance has the passed flag set.
@@ -269,8 +283,9 @@ func (vm *Engine) verifyWitnessProgram(witness [][]byte) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			pops, err := parseScript(pkScript)
+			pops, closer, err := parseScript(pkScript)
 			if err != nil {
+				closer()
 				return err
 			}
 
@@ -278,6 +293,7 @@ func (vm *Engine) verifyWitnessProgram(witness [][]byte) error {
 			// append the pkScript generated above as the next
 			// script to execute.
 			vm.scripts = append(vm.scripts, pops)
+			vm.cleanups = append(vm.cleanups, closer)
 			vm.SetStack(witness)
 
 		case payToWitnessScriptHashDataSize: // P2WSH
@@ -310,8 +326,9 @@ func (vm *Engine) verifyWitnessProgram(witness [][]byte) error {
 			// With all the validity checks passed, parse the
 			// script into individual op-codes so w can execute it
 			// as the next script.
-			pops, err := parseScript(witnessScript)
+			pops, closer, err := parseScript(witnessScript)
 			if err != nil {
+				closer()
 				return err
 			}
 
@@ -319,6 +336,7 @@ func (vm *Engine) verifyWitnessProgram(witness [][]byte) error {
 			// the stack, and set the witnessScript to be the next
 			// script executed.
 			vm.scripts = append(vm.scripts, pops)
+			vm.cleanups = append(vm.cleanups, closer)
 			vm.SetStack(witness[:len(witness)-1])
 
 		default:
@@ -492,11 +510,13 @@ func (vm *Engine) Step() (done bool, err error) {
 			}
 
 			script := vm.savedFirstStack[len(vm.savedFirstStack)-1]
-			pops, err := parseScript(script)
+			pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
 			if err != nil {
+				closer()
 				return false, err
 			}
 			vm.scripts = append(vm.scripts, pops)
+			vm.cleanups = append(vm.cleanups, closer)
 
 			// Set stack to be the stack from first script minus the
 			// script itself
@@ -910,10 +930,13 @@ func NewEngine(scriptPubKey []byte, tx *wire.MsgTx, txIdx int, flags ScriptFlags
 			return nil, scriptError(ErrScriptTooBig, str)
 		}
 		var err error
-		vm.scripts[i], err = parseScript(scr)
+		var closer func()
+		vm.scripts[i], closer, err = parseScript(scr)
 		if err != nil {
+			closer()
 			return nil, err
 		}
+		vm.cleanups = append(vm.cleanups, closer)
 	}
 
 	// Advance the program counter to the public key script if the signature
diff --git a/txscript/nameclaim.go b/txscript/nameclaim.go
index bcdf01eb..9501c060 100644
--- a/txscript/nameclaim.go
+++ b/txscript/nameclaim.go
@@ -55,27 +55,27 @@ func UpdateClaimScript(name string, claimID []byte, value string) ([]byte, error
 }
 
 // DecodeClaimScript ...
-func DecodeClaimScript(script []byte) (*ClaimScript, error) {
+func DecodeClaimScript(script []byte) (*ClaimScript, func(), error) {
 	if len(script) == 0 {
-		return nil, ErrNotClaimScript
+		return nil, func() {}, ErrNotClaimScript
 	}
 	op := script[0]
 	if op != OP_CLAIMNAME && op != OP_SUPPORTCLAIM && op != OP_UPDATECLAIM {
-		return nil, ErrNotClaimScript
+		return nil, func() {}, ErrNotClaimScript
 	}
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, closer, err
 	}
 	if isClaimName(pops) || isSupportClaim(pops) || isUpdateClaim(pops) {
 		cs := &ClaimScript{op: op, pops: pops}
 		if cs.Size() > MaxClaimScriptSize {
 			log.Infof("claim script of %d bytes is larger than %d", cs.Size(), MaxClaimScriptSize)
-			return nil, ErrInvalidClaimScript
+			return nil, closer, ErrInvalidClaimScript
 		}
-		return cs, nil
+		return cs, closer, nil
 	}
-	return nil, ErrInvalidClaimScript
+	return nil, closer, ErrInvalidClaimScript
 }
 
 // ClaimScript ...
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ func (cs *ClaimScript) Size() int {
 
 // StripClaimScriptPrefix ...
 func StripClaimScriptPrefix(script []byte) []byte {
-	cs, err := DecodeClaimScript(script)
+	cs, closer, err := DecodeClaimScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return script
 	}
@@ -141,7 +142,8 @@ func StripClaimScriptPrefix(script []byte) []byte {
 
 // claimNameSize returns size of the name in a claim script or 0 if script is not a claimtrie transaction.
 func claimNameSize(script []byte) int {
-	cs, err := DecodeClaimScript(script)
+	cs, closer, err := DecodeClaimScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0
 	}
@@ -200,7 +202,8 @@ func isUpdateClaim(pops []parsedOpcode) bool {
 const illegalChars = "=&#:*$@%?/;\\\b\n\t\r\x00"
 
 func AllClaimsAreSane(script []byte, enforceSoftFork bool) error {
-	cs, err := DecodeClaimScript(script)
+	cs, closer, err := DecodeClaimScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != ErrNotClaimScript {
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("invalid claim script: %s", err.Error())
diff --git a/txscript/nameclaim_test.go b/txscript/nameclaim_test.go
index ed1a07ce..c793c9b3 100644
--- a/txscript/nameclaim_test.go
+++ b/txscript/nameclaim_test.go
@@ -12,12 +12,14 @@ func TestCreationParseLoopClaim(t *testing.T) {
 
 	claim, err := ClaimNameScript("tester", "value")
 	r.NoError(err)
-	parsed, err := parseScript(claim)
+	parsed, closer, err := parseScript(claim)
+	defer closer()
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.True(isClaimName(parsed))
 	r.False(isSupportClaim(parsed))
 	r.False(isUpdateClaim(parsed))
-	script, err := DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	script, closer2, err := DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	defer closer2()
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.Equal([]byte("tester"), script.Name())
 	r.Equal([]byte("value"), script.Value())
@@ -30,12 +32,14 @@ func TestCreationParseLoopUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	claimID := []byte("12345123451234512345")
 	claim, err := UpdateClaimScript("tester", claimID, "value")
 	r.NoError(err)
-	parsed, err := parseScript(claim)
+	parsed, closer, err := parseScript(claim)
+	defer closer()
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.False(isSupportClaim(parsed))
 	r.False(isClaimName(parsed))
 	r.True(isUpdateClaim(parsed))
-	script, err := DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	script, closer2, err := DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	defer closer2()
 
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.Equal([]byte("tester"), script.Name())
@@ -50,12 +54,15 @@ func TestCreationParseLoopSupport(t *testing.T) {
 	claimID := []byte("12345123451234512345")
 	claim, err := SupportClaimScript("tester", claimID, []byte("value"))
 	r.NoError(err)
-	parsed, err := parseScript(claim)
+	parsed, closer, err := parseScript(claim)
+	defer closer()
+
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.True(isSupportClaim(parsed))
 	r.False(isClaimName(parsed))
 	r.False(isUpdateClaim(parsed))
-	script, err := DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	script, closer2, err := DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	defer closer2()
 
 	r.NoError(err)
 	r.Equal([]byte("tester"), script.Name())
@@ -64,7 +71,8 @@ func TestCreationParseLoopSupport(t *testing.T) {
 
 	claim, err = SupportClaimScript("tester", claimID, nil)
 	r.NoError(err)
-	script, err = DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	script, closer, err = DecodeClaimScript(claim)
+	defer closer()
 	r.NoError(err)
 
 	r.Equal([]byte("tester"), script.Name())
diff --git a/txscript/pkscript.go b/txscript/pkscript.go
index 0703ef5d..e8f379ee 100644
--- a/txscript/pkscript.go
+++ b/txscript/pkscript.go
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ func computeNonWitnessPkScript(sigScript []byte) (PkScript, error) {
 		// The redeem script will always be the last data push of the
 		// signature script, so we'll parse the script into opcodes to
 		// obtain it.
-		parsedOpcodes, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+		parsedOpcodes, closer, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+		defer closer()
 		if err != nil {
 			return PkScript{}, err
 		}
diff --git a/txscript/script.go b/txscript/script.go
index ae6f509e..64089e83 100644
--- a/txscript/script.go
+++ b/txscript/script.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/chaincfg/chainhash"
@@ -63,7 +64,8 @@ func isScriptHash(pops []parsedOpcode) bool {
 // IsPayToScriptHash returns true if the script is in the standard
 // pay-to-script-hash (P2SH) format, false otherwise.
 func IsPayToScriptHash(script []byte) bool {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -81,7 +83,8 @@ func isWitnessScriptHash(pops []parsedOpcode) bool {
 // IsPayToWitnessScriptHash returns true if the is in the standard
 // pay-to-witness-script-hash (P2WSH) format, false otherwise.
 func IsPayToWitnessScriptHash(script []byte) bool {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -91,7 +94,8 @@ func IsPayToWitnessScriptHash(script []byte) bool {
 // IsPayToWitnessPubKeyHash returns true if the is in the standard
 // pay-to-witness-pubkey-hash (P2WKH) format, false otherwise.
 func IsPayToWitnessPubKeyHash(script []byte) bool {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -119,7 +123,8 @@ func IsWitnessProgram(script []byte) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -143,7 +148,8 @@ func isWitnessProgram(pops []parsedOpcode) bool {
 // ExtractWitnessProgramInfo attempts to extract the witness program version,
 // as well as the witness program itself from the passed script.
 func ExtractWitnessProgramInfo(script []byte) (int, []byte, error) {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, nil, err
 	}
@@ -184,18 +190,25 @@ func isPushOnly(pops []parsedOpcode) bool {
 //
 // False will be returned when the script does not parse.
 func IsPushOnlyScript(script []byte) bool {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
 	return isPushOnly(pops)
 }
 
+var parsedPool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() interface{} {
+		return make([]parsedOpcode, 0, 8)
+	},
+}
+
 // parseScriptTemplate is the same as parseScript but allows the passing of the
 // template list for testing purposes.  When there are parse errors, it returns
 // the list of parsed opcodes up to the point of failure along with the error.
-func parseScriptTemplate(script []byte, opcodes *[256]opcode) ([]parsedOpcode, error) {
-	retScript := make([]parsedOpcode, 0, len(script))
+func parseScriptTemplate(script []byte, opcodes *[256]opcode) ([]parsedOpcode, func(), error) {
+	retScript := parsedPool.Get().([]parsedOpcode)
 	var err error
 	for i := 0; i < len(script); {
 		instr := script[i]
@@ -203,13 +216,19 @@ func parseScriptTemplate(script []byte, opcodes *[256]opcode) ([]parsedOpcode, e
 		pop := parsedOpcode{opcode: op}
 		i, err = pop.checkParseableInScript(script, i)
 		if err != nil {
-			return retScript, err
+			break
 		}
 
 		retScript = append(retScript, pop)
 	}
 
-	return retScript, nil
+	return retScript, func() {
+		for i := range retScript {
+			retScript[i].data = nil
+			retScript[i].opcode = nil
+		}
+		parsedPool.Put(retScript[:0])
+	}, err
 }
 
 // checkScriptTemplateParseable is the same as parseScriptTemplate but does not
@@ -252,7 +271,7 @@ func checkScriptTemplateParseable(script []byte, opcodes *[256]opcode) (*byte, e
 
 // parseScript preparses the script in bytes into a list of parsedOpcodes while
 // applying a number of sanity checks.
-func parseScript(script []byte) ([]parsedOpcode, error) {
+func parseScript(script []byte) ([]parsedOpcode, func(), error) {
 	return parseScriptTemplate(script, &opcodeArray)
 }
 
@@ -277,7 +296,8 @@ func unparseScript(pops []parsedOpcode) ([]byte, error) {
 // if the caller wants more information about the failure.
 func DisasmString(buf []byte) (string, error) {
 	var disbuf bytes.Buffer
-	opcodes, err := parseScript(buf)
+	opcodes, closer, err := parseScript(buf)
+	defer closer()
 	for _, pop := range opcodes {
 		disbuf.WriteString(pop.print(true))
 		disbuf.WriteByte(' ')
@@ -517,7 +537,8 @@ func calcWitnessSignatureHash(subScript []parsedOpcode, sigHashes *TxSigHashes,
 func CalcWitnessSigHash(script []byte, sigHashes *TxSigHashes, hType SigHashType,
 	tx *wire.MsgTx, idx int, amt int64) ([]byte, error) {
 
-	parsedScript, err := parseScript(script)
+	parsedScript, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse output script: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -558,7 +579,8 @@ func shallowCopyTx(tx *wire.MsgTx) wire.MsgTx {
 // engine instance, calculate the signature hash to be used for signing and
 // verification.
 func CalcSignatureHash(script []byte, hashType SigHashType, tx *wire.MsgTx, idx int) ([]byte, error) {
-	parsedScript, err := parseScript(script)
+	parsedScript, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse output script: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -711,7 +733,8 @@ func getSigOpCount(pops []parsedOpcode, precise bool) int {
 func GetSigOpCount(script []byte) int {
 	// Don't check error since parseScript returns the parsed-up-to-error
 	// list of pops.
-	pops, _ := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, _ := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	return getSigOpCount(pops, false)
 }
 
@@ -723,7 +746,8 @@ func GetSigOpCount(script []byte) int {
 func GetPreciseSigOpCount(scriptSig, scriptPubKey []byte, bip16 bool) int {
 	// Don't check error since parseScript returns the parsed-up-to-error
 	// list of pops.
-	pops, _ := parseScript(scriptPubKey)
+	pops, closer1, _ := parseScript(scriptPubKey)
+	defer closer1()
 
 	// Treat non P2SH transactions as normal.
 	if !(bip16 && isScriptHash(pops)) {
@@ -733,7 +757,9 @@ func GetPreciseSigOpCount(scriptSig, scriptPubKey []byte, bip16 bool) int {
 	// The public key script is a pay-to-script-hash, so parse the signature
 	// script to get the final item.  Scripts that fail to fully parse count
 	// as 0 signature operations.
-	sigPops, err := parseScript(scriptSig)
+	sigPops, closer2, err := parseScript(scriptSig)
+	defer closer2()
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0
 	}
@@ -756,7 +782,9 @@ func GetPreciseSigOpCount(scriptSig, scriptPubKey []byte, bip16 bool) int {
 	// returns the parsed-up-to-error list of pops and the consensus rules
 	// dictate signature operations are counted up to the first parse
 	// failure.
-	shPops, _ := parseScript(shScript)
+	shPops, closer3, _ := parseScript(shScript)
+	defer closer3()
+
 	return getSigOpCount(shPops, true)
 }
 
@@ -776,7 +804,8 @@ func GetWitnessSigOpCount(sigScript, pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness) in
 	// Next, we'll check the sigScript to see if this is a nested p2sh
 	// witness program. This is a case wherein the sigScript is actually a
 	// datapush of a p2wsh witness program.
-	sigPops, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+	sigPops, closer, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0
 	}
@@ -811,7 +840,8 @@ func getWitnessSigOps(pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness) int {
 			len(witness) > 0:
 
 			witnessScript := witness[len(witness)-1]
-			pops, _ := parseScript(witnessScript)
+			pops, closer, _ := parseScript(witnessScript)
+			defer closer()
 			return getSigOpCount(pops, true)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/txscript/sign.go b/txscript/sign.go
index 348a109b..2b0876f2 100644
--- a/txscript/sign.go
+++ b/txscript/sign.go
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ func RawTxInWitnessSignature(tx *wire.MsgTx, sigHashes *TxSigHashes, idx int,
 	amt int64, subScript []byte, hashType SigHashType,
 	key *btcec.PrivateKey) ([]byte, error) {
 
-	parsedScript, err := parseScript(subScript)
+	parsedScript, closer, err := parseScript(subScript)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse output script: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -232,11 +233,13 @@ func mergeScripts(chainParams *chaincfg.Params, tx *wire.MsgTx, idx int,
 	case ScriptHashTy:
 		// Remove the last push in the script and then recurse.
 		// this could be a lot less inefficient.
-		sigPops, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+		sigPops, closer1, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+		defer closer1()
 		if err != nil || len(sigPops) == 0 {
 			return prevScript
 		}
-		prevPops, err := parseScript(prevScript)
+		prevPops, closer2, err := parseScript(prevScript)
+		defer closer2()
 		if err != nil || len(prevPops) == 0 {
 			return sigScript
 		}
@@ -293,14 +296,17 @@ func mergeMultiSig(tx *wire.MsgTx, idx int, addresses []btcutil.Address,
 	// This is an internal only function and we already parsed this script
 	// as ok for multisig (this is how we got here), so if this fails then
 	// all assumptions are broken and who knows which way is up?
-	pkPops, _ := parseScript(pkScript)
+	pkPops, closer1, _ := parseScript(pkScript)
+	defer closer1()
 
-	sigPops, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+	sigPops, closer2, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+	defer closer2()
 	if err != nil || len(sigPops) == 0 {
 		return prevScript
 	}
 
-	prevPops, err := parseScript(prevScript)
+	prevPops, closer3, err := parseScript(prevScript)
+	defer closer3()
 	if err != nil || len(prevPops) == 0 {
 		return sigScript
 	}
diff --git a/txscript/standard.go b/txscript/standard.go
index 0acce5bc..8a0ec81b 100644
--- a/txscript/standard.go
+++ b/txscript/standard.go
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ func typeOfScript(pops []parsedOpcode) ScriptClass {
 //
 // NonStandardTy will be returned when the script does not parse.
 func GetScriptClass(script []byte) ScriptClass {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return NonStandardTy
 	}
@@ -273,12 +274,14 @@ type ScriptInfo struct {
 func CalcScriptInfo(sigScript, pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness,
 	bip16, segwit bool) (*ScriptInfo, error) {
 
-	sigPops, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+	sigPops, closer1, err := parseScript(sigScript)
+	defer closer1()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	pkPops, err := parseScript(pkScript)
+	pkPops, closer2, err := parseScript(pkScript)
+	defer closer2()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -301,7 +304,8 @@ func CalcScriptInfo(sigScript, pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness,
 		// The pay-to-hash-script is the final data push of the
 		// signature script.
 		script := sigPops[len(sigPops)-1].data
-		shPops, err := parseScript(script)
+		shPops, closer3, err := parseScript(script)
+		defer closer3()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -332,7 +336,8 @@ func CalcScriptInfo(sigScript, pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness,
 
 		// Extract the pushed witness program from the sigScript so we
 		// can determine the number of expected inputs.
-		pkPops, _ := parseScript(sigScript[1:])
+		pkPops, closer4, _ := parseScript(sigScript[1:])
+		defer closer4()
 		shInputs := expectedInputs(pkPops, typeOfScript(pkPops))
 		if shInputs == -1 {
 			si.ExpectedInputs = -1
@@ -351,7 +356,8 @@ func CalcScriptInfo(sigScript, pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness,
 		// The witness script is the final element of the witness
 		// stack.
 		witnessScript := witness[len(witness)-1]
-		pops, _ := parseScript(witnessScript)
+		pops, closer5, _ := parseScript(witnessScript)
+		defer closer5()
 
 		shInputs := expectedInputs(pops, typeOfScript(pops))
 		if shInputs == -1 {
@@ -378,7 +384,8 @@ func CalcScriptInfo(sigScript, pkScript []byte, witness wire.TxWitness,
 // a multi-signature transaction script.  The passed script MUST already be
 // known to be a multi-signature script.
 func CalcMultiSigStats(script []byte) (int, int, error) {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, 0, err
 	}
@@ -519,7 +526,8 @@ func MultiSigScript(pubkeys []*btcutil.AddressPubKey, nrequired int) ([]byte, er
 // PushedData returns an array of byte slices containing any pushed data found
 // in the passed script.  This includes OP_0, but not OP_1 - OP_16.
 func PushedData(script []byte) ([][]byte, error) {
-	pops, err := parseScript(script)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(script)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -547,7 +555,8 @@ func ExtractPkScriptAddrs(pkScript []byte, chainParams *chaincfg.Params) (Script
 
 	// No valid addresses or required signatures if the script doesn't
 	// parse.
-	pops, err := parseScript(stripped)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(stripped)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return NonStandardTy, nil, 0, err
 	}
@@ -669,7 +678,8 @@ type AtomicSwapDataPushes struct {
 // This function is only defined in the txscript package due to API limitations
 // which prevent callers using txscript to parse nonstandard scripts.
 func ExtractAtomicSwapDataPushes(version uint16, pkScript []byte) (*AtomicSwapDataPushes, error) {
-	pops, err := parseScript(pkScript)
+	pops, closer, err := parseScript(pkScript)
+	defer closer()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}