diff --git a/wrapper.c b/wrapper.c
index 4ff4a9c3db..bcda41e374 100644
--- a/wrapper.c
+++ b/wrapper.c
@@ -117,10 +117,13 @@ void *xrealloc(void *ptr, size_t size)
 {
 	void *ret;
 
+	if (!size) {
+		free(ptr);
+		return xmalloc(0);
+	}
+
 	memory_limit_check(size, 0);
 	ret = realloc(ptr, size);
-	if (!ret && !size)
-		ret = realloc(ptr, 1);
 	if (!ret)
 		die("Out of memory, realloc failed");
 	return ret;