diff --git a/lib/krb5/get_default_realm.c b/lib/krb5/get_default_realm.c
index 1fec35729..c8bc15b62 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/get_default_realm.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/get_default_realm.c
@@ -68,8 +68,10 @@ krb5_get_default_realm(krb5_context context,
     if (context->default_realms == NULL
 	|| context->default_realms[0] == NULL) {
 	krb5_error_code ret = krb5_set_default_realm (context, NULL);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret) {
+	    krb5_set_error_string(context, "no default realm configured");
 	    return KRB5_CONFIG_NODEFREALM;
+	}
     }
 
     res = strdup (context->default_realms[0]);