diff --git a/repository.c b/repository.c
index 8717a1693a..f0bc2917d2 100644
--- a/repository.c
+++ b/repository.c
@@ -316,6 +316,7 @@ int repo_init(struct repository *repo,
 	return 0;
 
 error:
+	clear_repository_format(&format);
 	repo_clear(repo);
 	return -1;
 }