diff --git a/kdc/misc.c b/kdc/misc.c
index e468b47f0..529633f91 100644
--- a/kdc/misc.c
+++ b/kdc/misc.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ synthesize_client(krb5_context context,
         *(e->max_renew) = config->synthetic_clients_max_renew;
         *(e->max_life) = config->synthetic_clients_max_life;
         *h = e;
-    } else {
+    } else if (e) {
         hdb_free_entry(context, &null_db, e);
     }
     return ret;