diff --git a/appl/afsutil/afslog.c b/appl/afsutil/afslog.c
index f2ade9425..05078ee8e 100644
--- a/appl/afsutil/afslog.c
+++ b/appl/afsutil/afslog.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ expand_cell_name(const char *cell)
 	if(c)
 	    return c;
     }
-    return cell;
+    return NULL;
 }
 
 static void