diff --git a/src/newusers.c b/src/newusers.c
index c38aec4b..ac80f548 100644
--- a/src/newusers.c
+++ b/src/newusers.c
@@ -290,7 +290,8 @@ static int add_group (const char *name, const char *gid, gid_t *ngid, uid_t uid)
 		fprintf (stderr,
 		         _("%s: invalid group name '%s'\n"),
 		         Prog, grent.gr_name);
-		free (grent.gr_name);
+		if (grent.gr_name)
+			free (grent.gr_name);
 		return -1;
 	}