diff --git a/kdc/hprop.c b/kdc/hprop.c
index fb9eb4a8e..268882119 100644
--- a/kdc/hprop.c
+++ b/kdc/hprop.c
@@ -622,9 +622,8 @@ propagate_database (krb5_context context, int type,
         if (local_realm) {
             krb5_realm my_realm;
             krb5_get_default_realm(context,&my_realm);
-
-	    free (*krb5_princ_realm(context, server));
-            krb5_princ_set_realm(context,server,&my_realm);
+            krb5_principal_set_realm(context,server,my_realm);
+	    krb5_xfree(my_realm);
         }
     
 	auth_context = NULL;