diff --git a/repository.go b/repository.go
index 53484f8..02dcff6 100644
--- a/repository.go
+++ b/repository.go
@@ -24,6 +24,24 @@ func OpenRepository(path string) (*Repository, error) {
 	runtime.LockOSThread()
 	defer runtime.UnlockOSThread()
 
+	ret := C.git_repository_open(&repo.ptr, cpath)
+	if ret < 0 {
+		return nil, MakeGitError(ret)
+	}
+
+	runtime.SetFinalizer(repo, (*Repository).Free)
+	return repo, nil
+}
+
+func OpenRepositoryExtended(path string) (*Repository, error) {
+	repo := new(Repository)
+
+	cpath := C.CString(path)
+	defer C.free(unsafe.Pointer(cpath))
+
+	runtime.LockOSThread()
+	defer runtime.UnlockOSThread()
+
 	ret := C.git_repository_open_ext(&repo.ptr, cpath, 0, nil)
 	if ret < 0 {
 		return nil, MakeGitError(ret)