diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 1a0da71a43..ce76b6f960 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ static void refresh_cache_or_die(int refresh_flags)
 static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix,
 				 const struct commit *current_head, int is_status)
 {
-	struct string_list partial;
+	struct string_list partial = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 	struct pathspec pathspec;
 	int refresh_flags = REFRESH_QUIET;
 	const char *ret;
@@ -381,7 +381,8 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 			warning(_("Failed to update main cache tree"));
 
 		commit_style = COMMIT_NORMAL;
-		return get_lock_file_path(&index_lock);
+		ret = get_lock_file_path(&index_lock);
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -404,7 +405,8 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 		if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, CLOSE_LOCK))
 			die(_("unable to write new_index file"));
 		commit_style = COMMIT_NORMAL;
-		return get_lock_file_path(&index_lock);
+		ret = get_lock_file_path(&index_lock);
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -430,7 +432,8 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 			rollback_lock_file(&index_lock);
 		}
 		commit_style = COMMIT_AS_IS;
-		return get_index_file();
+		ret = get_index_file();
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -461,7 +464,6 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 			die(_("cannot do a partial commit during a cherry-pick."));
 	}
 
-	string_list_init(&partial, 1);
 	if (list_paths(&partial, !current_head ? NULL : "HEAD", prefix, &pathspec))
 		exit(1);
 
@@ -491,6 +493,9 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 	discard_cache();
 	ret = get_lock_file_path(&false_lock);
 	read_cache_from(ret);
+out:
+	string_list_clear(&partial, 0);
+	clear_pathspec(&pathspec);
 	return ret;
 }