diff --git a/src/internal/m365/collection/drive/collection.go b/src/internal/m365/collection/drive/collection.go
index 60614280a..4d3a06063 100644
--- a/src/internal/m365/collection/drive/collection.go
+++ b/src/internal/m365/collection/drive/collection.go
@@ -467,6 +467,8 @@ func (oc *Collection) populateItems(ctx context.Context, errs *fault.Bus) {
 
 	wg.Wait()
 
+	// free up memory
+	oc.driveItems = nil
 	oc.reportAsCompleted(ctx, int(stats.itemsFound), int(stats.itemsRead), stats.byteCount)
 }