diff --git a/lib/gssapi/krb5/release_name.c b/lib/gssapi/krb5/release_name.c
index f77edbbce..e2ff9dde3 100644
--- a/lib/gssapi/krb5/release_name.c
+++ b/lib/gssapi/krb5/release_name.c
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ OM_uint32 _gsskrb5_release_name
     krb5_context context;
     krb5_principal name = (krb5_principal)*input_name;
 
-    if (minor_status)
-      *minor_status = 0;
+    *minor_status = 0;
 
     GSSAPI_KRB5_INIT (&context);