diff --git a/src/templates_hdf5/templator_hdf5.org b/src/templates_hdf5/templator_hdf5.org
index 542067a..62f1e58 100644
--- a/src/templates_hdf5/templator_hdf5.org
+++ b/src/templates_hdf5/templator_hdf5.org
@@ -498,6 +498,10 @@ trexio_hdf5_read_$group_dset$ (trexio_t* const file, char* const $group_dset$, c
   for (uint64_t i=0; i<dims[0]; i++){
 
     if (strlen(rdata[i]) > max_str_len) {
+      // this function is introduced in HDF5 v.1.12.0
+      //status = H5Treclaim (memtype, dspace, H5P_DEFAULT, rdata);
+      // this function is deprecated but used in v.<1.12.0
+      status = H5Dvlen_reclaim (memtype, dspace, H5P_DEFAULT, rdata);
       FREE(rdata);
       H5Dclose(dset_id);
       H5Sclose(dspace);