diff --git a/repository.c b/repository.c
index 187dd471c4..e2b5c6712b 100644
--- a/repository.c
+++ b/repository.c
@@ -421,6 +421,11 @@ void repo_clear(struct repository *repo)
 		FREE_AND_NULL(repo->remote_state);
 	}
 
+	if (repo->refs_private) {
+		ref_store_release(repo->refs_private);
+		FREE_AND_NULL(repo->refs_private);
+	}
+
 	strmap_for_each_entry(&repo->submodule_ref_stores, &iter, e)
 		ref_store_release(e->value);
 	strmap_clear(&repo->submodule_ref_stores, 1);