diff --git a/src/rx/xdr.c b/src/rx/xdr.c
index bfc1b7f6fe..88f7772c99 100644
--- a/src/rx/xdr.c
+++ b/src/rx/xdr.c
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ xdr_string(XDR * xdrs, char **cpp, u_int maxsize)
     if (!xdr_u_int(xdrs, &size)) {
 	return (FALSE);
     }
-    if (size > maxsize) {
+    if (xdrs->x_op != XDR_FREE && size > maxsize) {
 	return (FALSE);
     }
     nodesize = size + 1;