diff --git a/lib/gssapi/mech/context.c b/lib/gssapi/mech/context.c
index 96e5edc32..5ea0ac466 100644
--- a/lib/gssapi/mech/context.c
+++ b/lib/gssapi/mech/context.c
@@ -85,17 +85,19 @@ _gss_mg_get_error(const gss_OID mech, OM_uint32 type,
     case GSS_C_GSS_CODE: {
 	if (value != mg->maj_stat || mg->maj_error.length == 0)
 	    break;
-	string->value = malloc(mg->maj_error.length);
+	string->value = malloc(mg->maj_error.length + 1);
 	string->length = mg->maj_error.length;
 	memcpy(string->value, mg->maj_error.value, mg->maj_error.length);
+        ((char *) string->value)[string->length] = '\0';
 	return GSS_S_COMPLETE;
     }
     case GSS_C_MECH_CODE: {
 	if (value != mg->min_stat || mg->min_error.length == 0)
 	    break;
-	string->value = malloc(mg->min_error.length);
+	string->value = malloc(mg->min_error.length + 1);
 	string->length = mg->min_error.length;
 	memcpy(string->value, mg->min_error.value, mg->min_error.length);
+        ((char *) string->value)[string->length] = '\0';
 	return GSS_S_COMPLETE;
     }
     }