diff --git a/builtin/apply.c b/builtin/apply.c
index 35460c940c..09f5df3b96 100644
--- a/builtin/apply.c
+++ b/builtin/apply.c
@@ -371,8 +371,8 @@ static void prepare_image(struct image *image, char *buf, size_t len,
 static void clear_image(struct image *image)
 {
 	free(image->buf);
-	image->buf = NULL;
-	image->len = 0;
+	free(image->line_allocated);
+	memset(image, 0, sizeof(*image));
 }
 
 /* fmt must contain _one_ %s and no other substitution */