diff --git a/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c b/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c
index 50801fbb6..dec2ff7a5 100644
--- a/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c
+++ b/plugins/sudoers/log_client.c
@@ -1988,7 +1988,6 @@ client_closure_alloc(struct log_details *details, struct timespec *now,
 oom:
     sudo_warnx(U_("%s: %s"), __func__, U_("unable to allocate memory"));
     client_closure_free(closure);
-    closure = NULL;
     debug_return_ptr(NULL);
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/sudoers/logging.c b/plugins/sudoers/logging.c
index 07d78d238..c06f9df16 100644
--- a/plugins/sudoers/logging.c
+++ b/plugins/sudoers/logging.c
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ log_server_reject(struct eventlog *evlog, const char *message,
 	    false, SEND_REJECT, message, event_alloc);
 	if (client_closure != NULL) {
 	    client_closure_free(client_closure);
+	    client_closure = NULL;
 	    ret = true;
 	}
 
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ log_server_alert(struct eventlog *evlog, struct timespec *now,
 	    SEND_ALERT, emessage ? emessage : message, event_alloc);
 	if (client_closure != NULL) {
 	    client_closure_free(client_closure);
+	    client_closure = NULL;
 	    ret = true;
 	}