diff --git a/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/name.c b/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/name.c
index 77c2f335a..dc3b27ac8 100644
--- a/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/name.c
+++ b/src/cmd/ksh93/sh/name.c
@@ -1888,7 +1888,10 @@ void nv_putval(register Namval_t *np, const char *string, int flags)
 			else
 			{
 				if(size==0 && nv_isattr(np,NV_HOST)!=NV_HOST &&nv_isattr(np,NV_LJUST|NV_RJUST|NV_ZFILL))
+				{
 					nv_setsize(np,size=dot);
+					tofree = up->cp;
+				}
 				else if(size > dot)
 					dot = size;
 				else if(nv_isattr(np,NV_LJUST|NV_RJUST)==NV_LJUST && dot>size)