diff --git a/builtin/submodule--helper.c b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
index 4bba1c7561..ef56471a8c 100644
--- a/builtin/submodule--helper.c
+++ b/builtin/submodule--helper.c
@@ -2561,6 +2561,7 @@ cleanup:
 static int module_update(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	struct pathspec pathspec = { 0 };
+	struct pathspec pathspec2 = { 0 };
 	struct update_data opt = UPDATE_DATA_INIT;
 	struct list_objects_filter_options filter_options = { 0 };
 	int ret;
@@ -2649,7 +2650,7 @@ static int module_update(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		struct init_cb info = INIT_CB_INIT;
 
 		if (module_list_compute(argc, argv, opt.prefix,
-					&pathspec, &list) < 0) {
+					&pathspec2, &list) < 0) {
 			ret = 1;
 			goto cleanup;
 		}
@@ -2672,6 +2673,7 @@ static int module_update(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 cleanup:
 	list_objects_filter_release(&filter_options);
 	clear_pathspec(&pathspec);
+	clear_pathspec(&pathspec2);
 	return ret;
 }