diff --git a/lib/gssapi/mech/gss_utils.c b/lib/gssapi/mech/gss_utils.c
index 96d420193..05a641c39 100644
--- a/lib/gssapi/mech/gss_utils.c
+++ b/lib/gssapi/mech/gss_utils.c
@@ -46,6 +46,17 @@ _gss_copy_oid(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
 	return (GSS_S_COMPLETE);
 }
 
+OM_uint32
+_gss_free_oid(OM_uint32 *minor_status, gss_OID oid)
+{
+	*minor_status = 0;
+	if (oid->elements) {
+	    free(oid->elements);
+	    oid->elements = NULL;
+	    oid->length = 0;
+	}
+	return (GSS_S_COMPLETE);
+}
 
 OM_uint32
 _gss_copy_buffer(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
diff --git a/lib/gssapi/mech/utils.h b/lib/gssapi/mech/utils.h
index cc0083997..7b27d38f3 100644
--- a/lib/gssapi/mech/utils.h
+++ b/lib/gssapi/mech/utils.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
  *	$Id$
  */
 
+OM_uint32 _gss_free_oid(OM_uint32 *, gss_OID);
 OM_uint32 _gss_copy_oid(OM_uint32 *, const gss_OID, gss_OID);
 OM_uint32 _gss_copy_buffer(OM_uint32 *minor_status,
     const gss_buffer_t from_buf, gss_buffer_t to_buf);