diff --git a/src/clone.c b/src/clone.c
index e9686dce4..d60977a3f 100644
--- a/src/clone.c
+++ b/src/clone.c
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ static int update_head_to_branch(
 
 cleanup:
 	git_reference_free(remote_ref);
+	git_buf_free(&remote_branch_name);
 	return retcode;
 }