diff --git a/ssl/d1_both.c b/ssl/d1_both.c
index fef8b45ae..b0e749c3d 100644
--- a/ssl/d1_both.c
+++ b/ssl/d1_both.c
@@ -645,14 +645,14 @@ dtls1_reassemble_fragment(SSL *s, struct hm_header_st* msg_hdr, int *ok)
 			}
 		}
 
-
 	/* If message is already reassembled, this must be a
-	 * retransmit and can be dropped.
-	 */
+	 * retransmit and can be dropped. In this case item != NULL and so frag
+	 * does not need to be freed. */
 	if (frag->reassembly == NULL)
 		{
 		unsigned char devnull [256];
 
+		assert(item != NULL);
 		while (frag_len)
 			{
 			i = s->method->ssl_read_bytes(s,SSL3_RT_HANDSHAKE,