diff --git a/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c b/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c
index 44fe37992..d278a41f5 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c
@@ -66,10 +66,12 @@ _DtCm_rtable_lookup_3_svc (Table_Args_3 *args, struct svc_req *svcrq)
 	if (res!=NULL) xdr_free ((xdrproc_t)_DtCm_xdr_Table_Res_3, (char*)res); res = NULL;
 
 	newargs = _DtCm_tableargs3_to_tableargs4(args);
-	newres = _DtCm_rtable_lookup_4_svc(newargs, svcrq); 
-	res = _DtCm_tableres4_to_tableres3(newres);
+	if(newargs) {
+		newres = _DtCm_rtable_lookup_4_svc(newargs, svcrq);
+		res = _DtCm_tableres4_to_tableres3(newres);
 
-	if (newargs!=NULL) xdr_free((xdrproc_t)_DtCm_xdr_Table_Args_4, (char*)newargs);
+		xdr_free((xdrproc_t)_DtCm_xdr_Table_Args_4, (char*)newargs);
+	}
 
 	return(res);
 }