diff --git a/worktree.c b/worktree.c
index fa7bc67a50..1ffacc5a92 100644
--- a/worktree.c
+++ b/worktree.c
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ int submodule_uses_worktrees(const char *path)
 
 	/* The env would be set for the superproject. */
 	get_common_dir_noenv(&sb, submodule_gitdir);
+	free(submodule_gitdir);
 
 	/*
 	 * The check below is only known to be good for repository format
@@ -415,7 +416,6 @@ int submodule_uses_worktrees(const char *path)
 	/* See if there is any file inside the worktrees directory. */
 	dir = opendir(sb.buf);
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
-	free(submodule_gitdir);
 
 	if (!dir)
 		return 0;