diff --git a/reftable/reader.c b/reftable/reader.c
index 3f2e4b2800..24bae50ac2 100644
--- a/reftable/reader.c
+++ b/reftable/reader.c
@@ -666,6 +666,8 @@ done:
 	reftable_block_done(&footer);
 	reftable_block_done(&header);
 	if (err) {
+		if (r)
+			reftable_free(r->name);
 		reftable_free(r);
 		block_source_close(source);
 	}