diff --git a/repair/row_level.cc b/repair/row_level.cc
index 665a772949..20fe2f7f8b 100644
--- a/repair/row_level.cc
+++ b/repair/row_level.cc
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ repair_reader::read_mutation_fragment() {
 
 future<> repair_reader::on_end_of_stream() noexcept {
     return _reader.close().then([this] {
+        _permit.release_base_resources();
         _reader = mutation_fragment_v1_stream(make_empty_flat_reader_v2(_schema, _permit));
         _reader_handle.reset();
     });
@@ -368,6 +369,7 @@ future<> repair_reader::on_end_of_stream() noexcept {
 
 future<> repair_reader::close() noexcept {
     return _reader.close().then([this] {
+        _permit.release_base_resources();
         _reader_handle.reset();
     });
 }