diff --git a/pxr/imaging/hgiVulkan/instance.cpp b/pxr/imaging/hgiVulkan/instance.cpp
index 226cd9508d..faddf70f65 100755
--- a/pxr/imaging/hgiVulkan/instance.cpp
+++ b/pxr/imaging/hgiVulkan/instance.cpp
@@ -85,8 +85,7 @@ HgiVulkanInstance::HgiVulkanInstance()
         TF_VERIFY(result == VK_SUCCESS);
 
         for (size_t i = 0u; i < numExtensions; ++i) {
-            std::string extensionName = availableExtensions[i].extensionName;
-            if (extensionName == VK_EXT_DEBUG_UTILS_EXTENSION_NAME) {
+            if (strcmp(availableExtensions[i].extensionName, VK_EXT_DEBUG_UTILS_EXTENSION_NAME) == 0) {
                 extensions.push_back(VK_EXT_DEBUG_UTILS_EXTENSION_NAME);
             }
         }
@@ -100,13 +99,14 @@ HgiVulkanInstance::HgiVulkanInstance()
         TF_VERIFY(result == VK_SUCCESS);
 
         for (size_t i = 0u; i < numInstanceLayers; ++i) {
-            std::string layerName = instanceLayerProps[i].layerName;
-            std::string layerDesc = instanceLayerProps[i].description;
-            if (layerName == "VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation") {
+            if (strcmp(instanceLayerProps[i].layerName, "VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation") == 0) {
                 instanceLayerList.push_back("VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation");
             }
         }
 
+        free(availableExtensions);
+        free(instanceLayerProps);
+
         createInfo.ppEnabledLayerNames = instanceLayerList.data();
         createInfo.enabledLayerCount = (uint32_t)instanceLayerList.size();
     }