diff --git a/lib/nl.c b/lib/nl.c
index 0ed248e..6ba4828 100644
--- a/lib/nl.c
+++ b/lib/nl.c
@@ -551,9 +551,8 @@ abort:
 	if (retval <= 0) {
 	    free(iov.iov_base); iov.iov_base = NULL;
 	    free(tmpcreds); tmpcreds = NULL;
-	}
-
-	*buf = iov.iov_base;
+	} else
+		*buf = iov.iov_base;
 
 	if (creds)
 	    *creds = tmpcreds;