diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 143f7cb3cc..f3e132888f 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -1160,7 +1160,7 @@ static void submodule_summary_callback(struct diff_queue_struct *q,
 
 		if (!S_ISGITLINK(p->one->mode) && !S_ISGITLINK(p->two->mode))
 			continue;
-		temp = (struct module_cb*)malloc(sizeof(struct module_cb));
+		temp = xmalloc(sizeof(*temp));
 		temp->mod_src = p->one->mode;
 		temp->mod_dst = p->two->mode;
 		temp->oid_src = p->one->oid;