diff --git a/http-push.c b/http-push.c
index 78283b4de3..fffbe9ccb4 100644
--- a/http-push.c
+++ b/http-push.c
@@ -1275,8 +1275,6 @@ static struct remote_lock *lock_remote(const char *path, long timeout)
 	char *ep;
 	char timeout_header[25];
 	struct remote_lock *lock = NULL;
-	XML_Parser parser = XML_ParserCreate(NULL);
-	enum XML_Status result;
 	struct curl_slist *dav_headers = NULL;
 	struct xml_ctx ctx;
 
@@ -1345,6 +1343,8 @@ static struct remote_lock *lock_remote(const char *path, long timeout)
 	if (start_active_slot(slot)) {
 		run_active_slot(slot);
 		if (results.curl_result == CURLE_OK) {
+			XML_Parser parser = XML_ParserCreate(NULL);
+			enum XML_Status result;
 			ctx.name = xcalloc(10, 1);
 			ctx.len = 0;
 			ctx.cdata = NULL;
@@ -1363,6 +1363,7 @@ static struct remote_lock *lock_remote(const char *path, long timeout)
 						XML_GetErrorCode(parser)));
 				lock->timeout = -1;
 			}
+			XML_ParserFree(parser);
 		}
 	} else {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Unable to start LOCK request\n");
@@ -1525,8 +1526,6 @@ static void remote_ls(const char *path, int flags,
 	struct buffer out_buffer;
 	char *in_data;
 	char *out_data;
-	XML_Parser parser = XML_ParserCreate(NULL);
-	enum XML_Status result;
 	struct curl_slist *dav_headers = NULL;
 	struct xml_ctx ctx;
 	struct remote_ls_ctx ls;
@@ -1569,6 +1568,8 @@ static void remote_ls(const char *path, int flags,
 	if (start_active_slot(slot)) {
 		run_active_slot(slot);
 		if (results.curl_result == CURLE_OK) {
+			XML_Parser parser = XML_ParserCreate(NULL);
+			enum XML_Status result;
 			ctx.name = xcalloc(10, 1);
 			ctx.len = 0;
 			ctx.cdata = NULL;
@@ -1587,6 +1588,7 @@ static void remote_ls(const char *path, int flags,
 					XML_ErrorString(
 						XML_GetErrorCode(parser)));
 			}
+			XML_ParserFree(parser);
 		}
 	} else {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Unable to start PROPFIND request\n");
@@ -1620,8 +1622,6 @@ static int locking_available(void)
 	struct buffer out_buffer;
 	char *in_data;
 	char *out_data;
-	XML_Parser parser = XML_ParserCreate(NULL);
-	enum XML_Status result;
 	struct curl_slist *dav_headers = NULL;
 	struct xml_ctx ctx;
 	int lock_flags = 0;
@@ -1658,6 +1658,8 @@ static int locking_available(void)
 	if (start_active_slot(slot)) {
 		run_active_slot(slot);
 		if (results.curl_result == CURLE_OK) {
+			XML_Parser parser = XML_ParserCreate(NULL);
+			enum XML_Status result;
 			ctx.name = xcalloc(10, 1);
 			ctx.len = 0;
 			ctx.cdata = NULL;
@@ -1676,6 +1678,7 @@ static int locking_available(void)
 						XML_GetErrorCode(parser)));
 				lock_flags = 0;
 			}
+			XML_ParserFree(parser);
 		}
 	} else {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Unable to start PROPFIND request\n");