diff --git a/doc/github_commits.c b/doc/github_commits.c
index c020f46..81c8063 100644
--- a/doc/github_commits.c
+++ b/doc/github_commits.c
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         sha = json_object_get(data, "sha");
         if (!json_is_string(sha)) {
             fprintf(stderr, "error: commit %d: sha is not a string\n", (int)(i + 1));
+            json_decref(root);
             return 1;
         }