diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 32f137e96643b04ed70693b6d4367ea7618904c4..16eb39e06e77f081abedab31ba30eae36834c84a 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -477,26 +477,6 @@ static void read_config(void)
 	alias_all_urls();
 }
 
-/*
- * This function frees a refspec array.
- * Warning: code paths should be checked to ensure that the src
- *          and dst pointers are always freeable pointers as well
- *          as the refspec pointer itself.
- */
-static void free_refspecs(struct refspec *refspec, int nr_refspec)
-{
-	int i;
-
-	if (!refspec)
-		return;
-
-	for (i = 0; i < nr_refspec; i++) {
-		free(refspec[i].src);
-		free(refspec[i].dst);
-	}
-	free(refspec);
-}
-
 static struct refspec *parse_refspec_internal(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec, int fetch, int verify)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -610,7 +590,7 @@ static struct refspec *parse_refspec_internal(int nr_refspec, const char **refsp
 		 * since it is only possible to reach this point from within
 		 * the for loop above.
 		 */
-		free_refspecs(rs, i+1);
+		free_refspec(i+1, rs);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	die("Invalid refspec '%s'", refspec[i]);
@@ -621,7 +601,7 @@ int valid_fetch_refspec(const char *fetch_refspec_str)
 	struct refspec *refspec;
 
 	refspec = parse_refspec_internal(1, &fetch_refspec_str, 1, 1);
-	free_refspecs(refspec, 1);
+	free_refspec(1, refspec);
 	return !!refspec;
 }
 
@@ -638,6 +618,10 @@ struct refspec *parse_push_refspec(int nr_refspec, const char **refspec)
 void free_refspec(int nr_refspec, struct refspec *refspec)
 {
 	int i;
+
+	if (!refspec)
+		return;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < nr_refspec; i++) {
 		free(refspec[i].src);
 		free(refspec[i].dst);