diff --git a/lib/krb5/data.c b/lib/krb5/data.c
index 0026a3585..bea850ce4 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/data.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/data.c
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 
 RCSID("$Id$");
 
+void
+krb5_data_zero(krb5_data *p)
+{
+    p->length = 0;
+    p->data   = NULL;
+}
+
 void
 krb5_data_free(krb5_data *p)
 {