diff --git a/appl/ftp/ftp/kauth.c b/appl/ftp/ftp/kauth.c
index 7f5b53a1d..829a7cbed 100644
--- a/appl/ftp/ftp/kauth.c
+++ b/appl/ftp/ftp/kauth.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ void kauth(int argc, char **argv)
     char *p;
     int overbose;
     char passwd[100];
+    int tmp;
 	
     if(argc > 2){
 	printf("usage: %s [principal]\n", argv[0]);
@@ -80,12 +81,13 @@ void kauth(int argc, char **argv)
 	return;
     }
     p += 2;
-    tkt.length = base64_decode(p, &tkt.dat);
-    if(tkt.length < 0){
+    tmp = base64_decode(p, &tkt.dat);
+    if(tmp < 0){
 	printf("Failed to decode base64 in reply.\n");
 	code = -1;
 	return;
     }
+    tkt.length = tmp;
     tktcopy.length = tkt.length;
     
     p = strstr(reply_string, "P=");
diff --git a/appl/ftp/ftpd/krb4.c b/appl/ftp/ftpd/krb4.c
index 2b58d941f..70dcd6482 100644
--- a/appl/ftp/ftpd/krb4.c
+++ b/appl/ftp/ftpd/krb4.c
@@ -86,12 +86,13 @@ int krb4_adat(char *auth)
     char inst[INST_SZ];
 
     memset(&tkt, 0, sizeof(tkt));
-    tkt.length = base64_decode(auth, tkt.dat);
+    len = base64_decode(auth, tkt.dat);
 
-    if(tkt.length < 0){
+    if(len < 0){
 	reply(501, "Failed to decode base64 data.");
 	return -1;
     }
+    tkt.length = len;
 
     k_getsockinst(0, inst);
     kerror = krb_rd_req(&tkt, "ftp", inst, 0, &auth_dat, "");