diff --git a/src/auth/cellconfig.c b/src/auth/cellconfig.c
index dc93411ba8..f20173f04d 100644
--- a/src/auth/cellconfig.c
+++ b/src/auth/cellconfig.c
@@ -1251,6 +1251,7 @@ afsconf_GetAfsdbInfo(char *acellName, char *aservice,
 		strlcpy(acellInfo->name, realCellName,
 			sizeof(acellInfo->name));
 		free(realCellName);
+		realCellName = NULL;
 	    }
 	}
 	acellInfo->linkedCell = NULL;       /* no linked cell */