diff --git a/builtin/mv.c b/builtin/mv.c
index 21c46d1636e..7e26eb5229a 100644
--- a/builtin/mv.c
+++ b/builtin/mv.c
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ int cmd_mv(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 					if (strncmp(path, src_w_slash, len_w_slash))
 						break;
 				}
-				free((char *)src_w_slash);
+				if (src_w_slash != src)
+					free((char *)src_w_slash);
 
 				if (last - first < 1)
 					bad = _("source directory is empty");