diff --git a/src/transports/local.c b/src/transports/local.c
index cbf6a4ea3..84acc797b 100644
--- a/src/transports/local.c
+++ b/src/transports/local.c
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ static int local_negotiate_fetch(
 			git_oid_cpy(&rhead->loid, git_object_id(obj));
 		else if (error != GIT_ENOTFOUND)
 			return error;
+		git_object_free(obj);
 		giterr_clear();
 	}