diff --git a/builtin/fsck.c b/builtin/fsck.c
index 64542ac3de..5aa4a1b336 100644
--- a/builtin/fsck.c
+++ b/builtin/fsck.c
@@ -170,7 +170,13 @@ static void mark_object_reachable(struct object *obj)
 
 static int traverse_one_object(struct object *obj)
 {
-	return fsck_walk(obj, obj, &fsck_walk_options);
+	int result = fsck_walk(obj, obj, &fsck_walk_options);
+
+	if (obj->type == OBJ_TREE) {
+		struct tree *tree = (struct tree *)obj;
+		free_tree_buffer(tree);
+	}
+	return result;
 }
 
 static int traverse_reachable(void)