diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index 75a748a644..0106e2ce5c 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -1749,6 +1749,7 @@ void *unpack_entry(struct packed_git *p, off_t obj_offset,
 			error("bad packed object CRC for %s",
 			      sha1_to_hex(sha1));
 			mark_bad_packed_object(p, sha1);
+			unuse_pack(&w_curs);
 			return NULL;
 		}
 	}