diff --git a/src/viced/host.c b/src/viced/host.c
index 0d5447b34f..2b9e7943d3 100644
--- a/src/viced/host.c
+++ b/src/viced/host.c
@@ -1646,6 +1646,8 @@ h_FindClient_r(struct rx_connection *tcon)
 	H_UNLOCK;
 	ObtainWriteLock(&client->lock);	/* released at end */
 	H_LOCK;
+    } else {
+	client = NULL;
     }
 
     authClass = rx_SecurityClassOf((struct rx_connection *)tcon);