diff --git a/builtin/prune-packed.c b/builtin/prune-packed.c
index 6879468c46a7baca69e5e28b0c6e38ff7099a6ff..d430731d701d7a06e1da0d8273c03453b85dcf96 100644
--- a/builtin/prune-packed.c
+++ b/builtin/prune-packed.c
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ void prune_packed_objects(int opts)
 		rmdir(pathname.buf);
 	}
 	stop_progress(&progress);
+	strbuf_release(&pathname);
 }
 
 int cmd_prune_packed(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)