diff --git a/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c b/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c
index 6a746a345..7e866a84c 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/send_to_kdc.c
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ send_and_recv_http(int fd,
 	s[rep->length] = 0;
 	p = strstr(s, "\r\n\r\n");
 	if(p == NULL) {
+	    krb5_data_zero(rep);
 	    free(s);
 	    return -1;
 	}
@@ -214,12 +215,14 @@ send_and_recv_http(int fd,
 	rep->data = s;
 	rep->length -= p - s;
 	if(rep->length < 4) { /* remove length */
+	    krb5_data_zero(rep);
 	    free(s);
 	    return -1;
 	}
 	rep->length -= 4;
 	_krb5_get_int(p, &rep_len, 4);
 	if (rep_len != rep->length) {
+	    krb5_data_zero(rep);
 	    free(s);
 	    return -1;
 	}