diff --git a/builtin/cat-file.c b/builtin/cat-file.c
index 6b65f56f44..1fdb980258 100644
--- a/builtin/cat-file.c
+++ b/builtin/cat-file.c
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ static int batch_objects(struct batch_options *opt)
 			break;
 	}
 
+	strbuf_release(&buf);
 	return retval;
 }