diff --git a/lib/kadm5/init_c.c b/lib/kadm5/init_c.c
index b522ae08a..37378c433 100644
--- a/lib/kadm5/init_c.c
+++ b/lib/kadm5/init_c.c
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ _kadm5_c_get_cred_cache(krb5_context context,
 		krb5_set_error_string(context, "Unable to find local user name");
 		return KADM5_FAILURE;
 	    }
-	    ret = krb5_make_principal(context, &client, 
+	    ret = krb5_make_principal(context, &default_client, 
 				      NULL, user, "admin", NULL);
 	    if(ret)
 		return ret;