diff --git a/appl/popper/pop_pass.c b/appl/popper/pop_pass.c
index ba1a83c80..639f03921 100644
--- a/appl/popper/pop_pass.c
+++ b/appl/popper/pop_pass.c
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ krb4_verify_password (POP *p)
 	      TKT_ROOT "_popper.%u", (unsigned)getpid());
     krb_set_tkt_string (tkt);
 
-    return krb_verify_user(p->user, "", lrealm, p->pop_parm[1],
-			   1, "pop");
+    status = krb_verify_user(p->user, "", lrealm, p->pop_parm[1], 1, "pop");
+    dest_tkt(); /* no point in keeping the tickets */
+    return status;
 }
 #endif /* KRB4 */