diff --git a/notes-merge.c b/notes-merge.c
index 6a9a139..f3cc84f 100644
--- a/notes-merge.c
+++ b/notes-merge.c
@@ -661,6 +661,7 @@ int notes_merge(struct notes_merge_options *o,
 		commit_list_insert(local, &parents);
 		create_notes_commit(o->repo, local_tree, parents, o->commit_msg.buf,
 				    o->commit_msg.len, result_oid);
+		free_commit_list(parents);
 	}
 
 found_result: