diff --git a/submodule.c b/submodule.c
index 4e299f578f..06073b2e7b 100644
--- a/submodule.c
+++ b/submodule.c
@@ -2388,7 +2388,7 @@ int get_superproject_working_tree(struct strbuf *buf)
 	struct child_process cp = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf one_up = STRBUF_INIT;
-	const char *cwd = xgetcwd();
+	char *cwd = xgetcwd();
 	int ret = 0;
 	const char *subpath;
 	int code;
@@ -2451,6 +2451,7 @@ int get_superproject_working_tree(struct strbuf *buf)
 		ret = 1;
 		free(super_wt);
 	}
+	free(cwd);
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
 
 	code = finish_command(&cp);