diff --git a/builtin/mailinfo.c b/builtin/mailinfo.c
index e7edd743ce..a0416610c9 100644
--- a/builtin/mailinfo.c
+++ b/builtin/mailinfo.c
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ static FILE *cmitmsg, *patchfile, *fin, *fout;
 static int keep_subject;
 static int keep_non_patch_brackets_in_subject;
 static const char *metainfo_charset;
-static struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
 static struct strbuf name = STRBUF_INIT;
 static struct strbuf email = STRBUF_INIT;
 static char *message_id;
@@ -964,6 +963,8 @@ static void handle_info(void)
 static int mailinfo(FILE *in, FILE *out, const char *msg, const char *patch)
 {
 	int peek;
+	struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
+
 	fin = in;
 	fout = out;
 
@@ -995,7 +996,7 @@ static int mailinfo(FILE *in, FILE *out, const char *msg, const char *patch)
 	fclose(patchfile);
 
 	handle_info();
-
+	strbuf_release(&line);
 	return 0;
 }