diff --git a/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c b/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c
index 55523d2ea..2d8c3d551 100644
--- a/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c
+++ b/lib/kadm5/ipropd_slave.c
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ receive_everything (krb5_context context, int fd,
 	krb5_err (context, 1, ret, "db->open");
 
     sp = NULL;
+    krb5_data_zero(&data);
     do {
 	ret = krb5_read_priv_message(context, auth_context, &fd, &data);