diff --git a/src/resolve/resolved-etc-hosts.c b/src/resolve/resolved-etc-hosts.c
index 507f68b47fd..08591661f6f 100644
--- a/src/resolve/resolved-etc-hosts.c
+++ b/src/resolve/resolved-etc-hosts.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static const struct hash_ops etc_hosts_item_ops = {
 };
 
 static int add_item(Manager *m, int family, const union in_addr_union *address, char **names) {
-
+        _cleanup_strv_free_ char **dummy = names;
         EtcHostsItem key = {
                 .family = family,
                 .address = *address,
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ static int add_item(Manager *m, int family, const union in_addr_union *address,
                                 free(item);
                                 return log_oom();
                         }
+
+                        dummy = NULL;
                 }
         }