diff --git a/cde/programs/dtsession/SmLock.c b/cde/programs/dtsession/SmLock.c
index 25069851e..fb45d37c8 100644
--- a/cde/programs/dtsession/SmLock.c
+++ b/cde/programs/dtsession/SmLock.c
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ static Boolean CanReAuthenticate(char *name, uid_t uid, char *passwd,
   Boolean fail = False;
 
   *pwent = (name == NULL) ? getpwuid(uid) : getpwnam(name);
-  *spent = getspnam((*pwent)->pw_name);
+  if (pwent)
+    *spent = getspnam((*pwent)->pw_name);
 
 #ifdef JET_AUTHDEBUG
   fprintf(stderr, "CanReAuthenticate(): %s %s %s\n",