diff --git a/lib/krb5/rd_cred.c b/lib/krb5/rd_cred.c
index ee3a0f0de..05a6d6372 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/rd_cred.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/rd_cred.c
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ krb5_rd_cred(krb5_context context,
     krb5_crypto crypto;
     int i;
 
+    *ret_creds = NULL;
+
     ret = decode_KRB_CRED(in_data->data, in_data->length, 
 			  &cred, &len);
     if(ret)