diff --git a/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c b/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c
index 855b5d93c..9a03703b7 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtcm/server/rtable3.c
@@ -255,12 +255,14 @@ _DtCm_rtable_change_instance_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);  
-	newargs->args.Args_4_u.apptid.option = do_one_4;
-        newres = _DtCm_rtable_change_4_svc(newargs, svcrq);  
-        res = _DtCm_tableres4_to_tableres3(newres);   
+        newargs = _DtCm_tableargs3_to_tableargs4(args);
+        if(newargs) {
+                newargs->args.Args_4_u.apptid.option = do_one_4;
+                newres = _DtCm_rtable_change_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);
 }