diff --git a/t/helper/test-ref-store.c b/t/helper/test-ref-store.c
index abb0ba101a..8fee3cfce1 100644
--- a/t/helper/test-ref-store.c
+++ b/t/helper/test-ref-store.c
@@ -138,11 +138,14 @@ static int cmd_delete_refs(struct ref_store *refs, const char **argv)
 	unsigned int flags = arg_flags(*argv++, "flags", transaction_flags);
 	const char *msg = *argv++;
 	struct string_list refnames = STRING_LIST_INIT_NODUP;
+	int result;
 
 	while (*argv)
 		string_list_append(&refnames, *argv++);
 
-	return refs_delete_refs(refs, msg, &refnames, flags);
+	result = refs_delete_refs(refs, msg, &refnames, flags);
+	string_list_clear(&refnames, 0);
+	return result;
 }
 
 static int cmd_rename_ref(struct ref_store *refs, const char **argv)