diff --git a/dbutils.c b/dbutils.c
index f4a5327e..4f392fc9 100644
--- a/dbutils.c
+++ b/dbutils.c
@@ -2608,6 +2608,7 @@ witness_copy_node_records(PGconn *primary_conn, PGconn *witness_conn)
 
 		return false;
 	}
+	PQclear(res);
 
 	/* truncate existing records */