diff --git a/changes/bug23139 b/changes/bug23139
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ed63ce85e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug23139
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (directory cache):
+    - Fix a memory leak in the code that recovers space in the consensus
+      directory cache. Fixes bug 23139; bugfix on 0.3.1.1-alpha.
diff --git a/src/or/consdiffmgr.c b/src/or/consdiffmgr.c
index 67a5d0b3c..928fc26f5 100644
--- a/src/or/consdiffmgr.c
+++ b/src/or/consdiffmgr.c
@@ -1156,6 +1156,7 @@ consdiffmgr_ensure_space_for_files(int n)
     if (++n_marked >= n_to_remove)
       break;
   } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(ent);
+  smartlist_free(objects);
 
   consensus_cache_delete_pending(cache, 1);
   if (BUG(n_marked < n_to_remove))