diff --git a/src/refs.c b/src/refs.c
index 00b9ff6b2..ce8d97256 100644
--- a/src/refs.c
+++ b/src/refs.c
@@ -787,6 +787,8 @@ static int packed_find_peel(reference_oid *ref)
 		 */
 	}
 
+	git_object_close(object);
+
 	return GIT_SUCCESS;
 }