diff --git a/builtin/clean.c b/builtin/clean.c
index 5a9c29a558..4ffe00dd7f 100644
--- a/builtin/clean.c
+++ b/builtin/clean.c
@@ -1021,11 +1021,7 @@ int cmd_clean(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		string_list_append(&del_list, rel);
 	}
 
-	for (i = 0; i < dir.nr; i++)
-		free(dir.entries[i]);
-
-	for (i = 0; i < dir.ignored_nr; i++)
-		free(dir.ignored[i]);
+	clear_directory(&dir);
 
 	if (interactive && del_list.nr > 0)
 		interactive_main_loop();
diff --git a/builtin/stash.c b/builtin/stash.c
index 10d87630cd..da48533d49 100644
--- a/builtin/stash.c
+++ b/builtin/stash.c
@@ -875,11 +875,8 @@ static int get_untracked_files(const struct pathspec *ps, int include_untracked,
 		strbuf_addstr(untracked_files, ent->name);
 		/* NUL-terminate: will be fed to update-index -z */
 		strbuf_addch(untracked_files, '\0');
-		free(ent);
 	}
 
-	free(dir.entries);
-	free(dir.ignored);
 	clear_directory(&dir);
 	return found;
 }
diff --git a/dir.c b/dir.c
index fe64be30ed..aa96030031 100644
--- a/dir.c
+++ b/dir.c
@@ -3009,8 +3009,8 @@ int remove_path(const char *name)
 }
 
 /*
- * Frees memory within dir which was allocated for exclude lists and
- * the exclude_stack.  Does not free dir itself.
+ * Frees memory within dir which was allocated, and resets fields for further
+ * use.  Does not free dir itself.
  */
 void clear_directory(struct dir_struct *dir)
 {
@@ -3030,6 +3030,13 @@ void clear_directory(struct dir_struct *dir)
 		free(group->pl);
 	}
 
+	for (i = 0; i < dir->ignored_nr; i++)
+		free(dir->ignored[i]);
+	for (i = 0; i < dir->nr; i++)
+		free(dir->entries[i]);
+	free(dir->ignored);
+	free(dir->entries);
+
 	stk = dir->exclude_stack;
 	while (stk) {
 		struct exclude_stack *prev = stk->prev;
@@ -3037,6 +3044,8 @@ void clear_directory(struct dir_struct *dir)
 		stk = prev;
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&dir->basebuf);
+
+	memset(&dir, 0, sizeof(*dir));
 }
 
 struct ondisk_untracked_cache {
diff --git a/dir.h b/dir.h
index 5855c065a6..7d76d0644f 100644
--- a/dir.h
+++ b/dir.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
  *
  * - Use `dir.entries[]`.
  *
- * - Call `clear_directory()` when none of the contained elements are no longer in use.
+ * - Call `clear_directory()` when the contained elements are no longer in use.
  *
  */
 
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index d75399085d..c00ea3e06a 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -724,18 +724,14 @@ static void wt_status_collect_untracked(struct wt_status *s)
 		struct dir_entry *ent = dir.entries[i];
 		if (index_name_is_other(istate, ent->name, ent->len))
 			string_list_insert(&s->untracked, ent->name);
-		free(ent);
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < dir.ignored_nr; i++) {
 		struct dir_entry *ent = dir.ignored[i];
 		if (index_name_is_other(istate, ent->name, ent->len))
 			string_list_insert(&s->ignored, ent->name);
-		free(ent);
 	}
 
-	free(dir.entries);
-	free(dir.ignored);
 	clear_directory(&dir);
 
 	if (advice_status_u_option)