diff --git a/builtin-pack-objects.c b/builtin-pack-objects.c
index 84a13c7ccd4..a6adc8c271e 100644
--- a/builtin-pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin-pack-objects.c
@@ -1861,6 +1861,8 @@ static void show_object(struct object_array_entry *p)
 	add_preferred_base_object(p->name);
 	add_object_entry(p->item->sha1, p->item->type, p->name, 0);
 	p->item->flags |= OBJECT_ADDED;
+	free((char *)p->name);
+	p->name = NULL;
 }
 
 static void show_edge(struct commit *commit)