diff --git a/lib/krb5/principal.c b/lib/krb5/principal.c
index a6c407110..92aa62076 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/principal.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/principal.c
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ krb5_copy_principal(krb5_context context,
     }
     p->ncomp = i+1;
   }
+  *outprinc = p;
   return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/principal.c b/principal.c
index a6c407110..92aa62076 100644
--- a/principal.c
+++ b/principal.c
@@ -294,6 +294,7 @@ krb5_copy_principal(krb5_context context,
     }
     p->ncomp = i+1;
   }
+  *outprinc = p;
   return 0;
 }