diff --git a/src/authm/AuthManager.cc b/src/authm/AuthManager.cc
index cbfb2741fc..348782c68a 100644
--- a/src/authm/AuthManager.cc
+++ b/src/authm/AuthManager.cc
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ void AuthRequest::add_auth(Operation             op,
 
     if ( auth == false )
     {
-        ostringstream oss;
+        oss.str("");
 
         oss << message;