diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index af849c644f..ef85fd48ad 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -1126,8 +1126,10 @@ static void setup_new_branch_info_and_source_tree(
 	if (!check_refname_format(new_branch_info->path, 0) &&
 	    !read_ref(new_branch_info->path, &branch_rev))
 		oidcpy(rev, &branch_rev);
-	else
+	else {
+		free((char *)new_branch_info->path);
 		new_branch_info->path = NULL; /* not an existing branch */
+	}
 
 	new_branch_info->commit = lookup_commit_reference_gently(the_repository, rev, 1);
 	if (!new_branch_info->commit) {