diff --git a/ovsdb/raft.c b/ovsdb/raft.c
index 6391eeb1300..e0af6bd6252 100644
--- a/ovsdb/raft.c
+++ b/ovsdb/raft.c
@@ -4163,9 +4163,7 @@ raft_handle_execute_command_request__(
     cmd->sid = rq->common.sid;
 
     enum raft_command_status status = cmd->status;
-    if (status != RAFT_CMD_INCOMPLETE) {
-        raft_command_unref(cmd);
-    }
+    raft_command_unref(cmd);
     return status;
 }