diff --git a/t/helper/test-fast-rebase.c b/t/helper/test-fast-rebase.c
index fc2d460904..993b90eaed 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-fast-rebase.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-fast-rebase.c
@@ -201,8 +201,6 @@ int cmd__fast_rebase(int argc, const char **argv)
 		}
 		if (create_symref("HEAD", branch_name.buf, reflog_msg.buf) < 0)
 			die(_("unable to update HEAD"));
-		strbuf_release(&reflog_msg);
-		strbuf_release(&branch_name);
 
 		prime_cache_tree(the_repository, the_repository->index,
 				 result.tree);
@@ -221,5 +219,8 @@ int cmd__fast_rebase(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock,
 			       COMMIT_LOCK | SKIP_IF_UNCHANGED))
 		die(_("unable to write %s"), get_index_file());
+
+	strbuf_release(&reflog_msg);
+	strbuf_release(&branch_name);
 	return (result.clean == 0);
 }