diff --git a/checker/patroni_leader_checker.go b/checker/patroni_leader_checker.go
index 17d0b5f..b82f41a 100644
--- a/checker/patroni_leader_checker.go
+++ b/checker/patroni_leader_checker.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ func (c *PatroniLeaderChecker) GetChangeNotificationStream(ctx context.Context,
 				c.Logger.Sugar().Error("patroni REST API error:", err)
 				continue
 			}
+			r.Body.Close() //throw away the body
 			out <- strconv.Itoa(r.StatusCode) == c.TriggerValue
 		}
 	}