diff --git a/object-file.c b/object-file.c
index 9213a51..ac3b7a6 100644
--- a/object-file.c
+++ b/object-file.c
@@ -2533,8 +2533,6 @@ int read_loose_object(const char *path,
 	char hdr[MAX_HEADER_LEN];
 	unsigned long *size = oi->sizep;
 
-	*contents = NULL;
-
 	map = map_loose_object_1(the_repository, path, NULL, &mapsize);
 	if (!map) {
 		error_errno(_("unable to mmap %s"), path);
@@ -2564,10 +2562,9 @@ int read_loose_object(const char *path,
 			goto out;
 		}
 		if (check_object_signature(the_repository, expected_oid,
-					   *contents, *size, oi->type_name->buf, real_oid)) {
-			free(*contents);
+					   *contents, *size,
+					   oi->type_name->buf, real_oid))
 			goto out;
-		}
 	}
 
 	ret = 0; /* everything checks out */