diff --git a/refs/reftable-backend.c b/refs/reftable-backend.c
index fe74af73af..7f61e1f1ae 100644
--- a/refs/reftable-backend.c
+++ b/refs/reftable-backend.c
@@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ static struct ref_store *reftable_be_init(struct repository *repo,
 	mask = umask(0);
 	umask(mask);
 
+	reftable_set_alloc(malloc, realloc, free);
 	base_ref_store_init(&refs->base, repo, gitdir, &refs_be_reftable);
 	strmap_init(&refs->worktree_backends);
 	refs->store_flags = store_flags;