diff --git a/t/t5541-http-push-smart.sh b/t/t5541-http-push-smart.sh
index 71428f3d5c..3ad514bbd4 100755
--- a/t/t5541-http-push-smart.sh
+++ b/t/t5541-http-push-smart.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ test_description='test smart pushing over http via http-backend'
 GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME=main
 export GIT_TEST_DEFAULT_INITIAL_BRANCH_NAME
 
+TEST_PASSES_SANITIZE_LEAK=true
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 ROOT_PATH="$PWD"
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index c688967b8c..9c8abd8eca 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -1023,6 +1023,7 @@ static int push_refs_with_push(struct transport *transport,
 			if (atomic) {
 				reject_atomic_push(remote_refs, mirror);
 				string_list_clear(&cas_options, 0);
+				strbuf_release(&buf);
 				return 0;
 			} else
 				continue;