diff --git a/ref-filter.c b/ref-filter.c
index 8ba0e31915..ea00ca38c8 100644
--- a/ref-filter.c
+++ b/ref-filter.c
@@ -1509,9 +1509,7 @@ char *get_head_description(void)
 		strbuf_addstr(&desc, _("no branch"));
 	strbuf_addch(&desc, ')');
 
-	free(state.branch);
-	free(state.onto);
-	free(state.detached_from);
+	wt_status_state_free_buffers(&state);
 	return strbuf_detach(&desc, NULL);
 }
 
diff --git a/worktree.c b/worktree.c
index 62217b4a6b..62a7eb9342 100644
--- a/worktree.c
+++ b/worktree.c
@@ -357,8 +357,7 @@ int is_worktree_being_rebased(const struct worktree *wt,
 		 state.branch &&
 		 starts_with(target, "refs/heads/") &&
 		 !strcmp(state.branch, target + strlen("refs/heads/")));
-	free(state.branch);
-	free(state.onto);
+	wt_status_state_free_buffers(&state);
 	return found_rebase;
 }
 
@@ -373,7 +372,7 @@ int is_worktree_being_bisected(const struct worktree *wt,
 		state.branch &&
 		starts_with(target, "refs/heads/") &&
 		!strcmp(state.branch, target + strlen("refs/heads/"));
-	free(state.branch);
+	wt_status_state_free_buffers(&state);
 	return found_rebase;
 }
 
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 4a7483ee7d..4345eb1749 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -778,9 +778,14 @@ void wt_status_collect(struct wt_status *s)
 
 void wt_status_collect_free_buffers(struct wt_status *s)
 {
-	free(s->state.branch);
-	free(s->state.onto);
-	free(s->state.detached_from);
+	wt_status_state_free_buffers(&s->state);
+}
+
+void wt_status_state_free_buffers(struct wt_status_state *state)
+{
+	FREE_AND_NULL(state->branch);
+	FREE_AND_NULL(state->onto);
+	FREE_AND_NULL(state->detached_from);
 }
 
 static void wt_longstatus_print_unmerged(struct wt_status *s)
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index f1fa0ec1a7..35b44c388e 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -151,7 +151,14 @@ void wt_status_add_cut_line(FILE *fp);
 void wt_status_prepare(struct repository *r, struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_collect(struct wt_status *s);
+/*
+ * Frees the buffers allocated by wt_status_collect.
+ */
 void wt_status_collect_free_buffers(struct wt_status *s);
+/*
+ * Frees the buffers of the wt_status_state.
+ */
+void wt_status_state_free_buffers(struct wt_status_state *s);
 void wt_status_get_state(struct repository *repo,
 			 struct wt_status_state *state,
 			 int get_detached_from);