diff --git a/setup.c b/setup.c
index 458582207e..bbd95f52c0 100644
--- a/setup.c
+++ b/setup.c
@@ -1423,11 +1423,6 @@ int discover_git_directory(struct strbuf *commondir,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	/* take ownership of candidate.partial_clone */
-	the_repository->repository_format_partial_clone =
-		candidate.partial_clone;
-	candidate.partial_clone = NULL;
-
 	clear_repository_format(&candidate);
 	return 0;
 }