diff --git a/lib/util/util_paths.c b/lib/util/util_paths.c
index ce93028d563..b35cc7f5863 100644
--- a/lib/util/util_paths.c
+++ b/lib/util/util_paths.c
@@ -89,15 +89,17 @@ static char *get_user_home_dir(TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx)
 	rc = getpwuid_r(getuid(), &pwd, buf, len, &pwdbuf);
 	while (rc == ERANGE) {
 		size_t newlen = 2 * len;
+		char *tmp = NULL;
 		if (newlen < len) {
 			/* Overflow */
 			goto done;
 		}
 		len = newlen;
-		buf = talloc_realloc_size(mem_ctx, buf, len);
-		if (buf == NULL) {
+		tmp = talloc_realloc_size(mem_ctx, buf, len);
+		if (tmp == NULL) {
 			goto done;
 		}
+		buf = tmp;
 		rc = getpwuid_r(getuid(), &pwd, buf, len, &pwdbuf);
 	}
 	if (rc != 0 || pwdbuf == NULL ) {