diff --git a/builtin/hash-object.c b/builtin/hash-object.c
index 2e6e2ddd0c..c7b3ad74c6 100644
--- a/builtin/hash-object.c
+++ b/builtin/hash-object.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int cmd_hash_object(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		prefix = setup_git_directory_gently(&nongit);
 
 	if (vpath && prefix)
-		vpath = xstrdup(prefix_filename(prefix, vpath));
+		vpath = prefix_filename(prefix, vpath);
 
 	git_config(git_default_config, NULL);