diff --git a/api/baseapi.cpp b/api/baseapi.cpp
index dda99883f..473df8a50 100644
--- a/api/baseapi.cpp
+++ b/api/baseapi.cpp
@@ -1702,8 +1702,9 @@ const int kMaxBytesPerLine = kNumbersPerBlob * (kBytesPer64BitNumber + 1) + 1 +
 
 /**
  * The recognized text is returned as a char* which is coded
- * as a UTF8 box file and must be freed with the delete [] operator.
+ * as a UTF8 box file.
  * page_number is a 0-base page index that will appear in the box file.
+ * Returned string must be freed with the delete [] operator.
  */
 char* TessBaseAPI::GetBoxText(int page_number) {
   if (tesseract_ == NULL ||
diff --git a/api/baseapi.h b/api/baseapi.h
index b78206f85..0b473e291 100644
--- a/api/baseapi.h
+++ b/api/baseapi.h
@@ -612,10 +612,10 @@ class TESS_API TessBaseAPI {
 
   /**
    * The recognized text is returned as a char* which is coded in the same
-   * format as a box file used in training. Returned string must be freed with
-   * the delete [] operator.
+   * format as a box file used in training.
    * Constructs coordinates in the original image - not just the rectangle.
    * page_number is a 0-based page index that will appear in the box file.
+   * Returned string must be freed with the delete [] operator.
    */
   char* GetBoxText(int page_number);
 
diff --git a/api/renderer.cpp b/api/renderer.cpp
index 97273f3cd..2dc274da5 100644
--- a/api/renderer.cpp
+++ b/api/renderer.cpp
@@ -251,11 +251,10 @@ TessBoxTextRenderer::TessBoxTextRenderer(const char *outputbase)
 }
 
 bool TessBoxTextRenderer::AddImageHandler(TessBaseAPI* api) {
-  char* text = api->GetBoxText(imagenum());
+  const std::unique_ptr<const char[]> text(api->GetBoxText(imagenum()));
   if (text == NULL) return false;
 
-  AppendString(text);
-  delete[] text;
+  AppendString(text.get());
 
   return true;
 }