diff --git a/ident.c b/ident.c
index 1c6788b153..853f888e94 100644
--- a/ident.c
+++ b/ident.c
@@ -169,9 +169,10 @@ const char *ident_default_email(void)
 			strbuf_addstr(&git_default_email, email);
 			committer_ident_explicitly_given |= IDENT_MAIL_GIVEN;
 			author_ident_explicitly_given |= IDENT_MAIL_GIVEN;
-		} else if ((email = query_user_email()) && email[0])
+		} else if ((email = query_user_email()) && email[0]) {
 			strbuf_addstr(&git_default_email, email);
-		else
+			free((char *)email);
+		} else
 			copy_email(xgetpwuid_self(&default_email_is_bogus),
 				   &git_default_email, &default_email_is_bogus);
 		strbuf_trim(&git_default_email);