diff --git a/lemon/glpk.cc b/lemon/glpk.cc
--- a/lemon/glpk.cc
+++ b/lemon/glpk.cc
@@ -522,6 +522,12 @@
     cols.clear();
   }
 
+  void GlpkBase::freeEnv() {
+    glp_free_env();
+  }
+
+  GlpkBase::FreeEnvHelper GlpkBase::freeEnvHelper;
+
   // GlpkLp members
 
   GlpkLp::GlpkLp()
diff --git a/lemon/glpk.h b/lemon/glpk.h
--- a/lemon/glpk.h
+++ b/lemon/glpk.h
@@ -100,6 +100,18 @@
 
     virtual void _clear();
 
+  private:
+
+    static void freeEnv();
+
+    struct FreeEnvHelper {
+      ~FreeEnvHelper() {
+        freeEnv();
+      }
+    };
+    
+    static FreeEnvHelper freeEnvHelper;
+    
   public:
 
     ///Pointer to the underlying GLPK data structure.