diff --git a/src/frontend/device.c b/src/frontend/device.c
index 24c405657..8627014c1 100644
--- a/src/frontend/device.c
+++ b/src/frontend/device.c
@@ -1321,7 +1321,7 @@ com_alter_common(wordlist *wl, int do_model)
             words = words->wl_next;
         xsbuf = rem_xsbuf = wl_flatten(words);
         /* fprintf(cp_err, "Chain    converted  %s \n", xsbuf); */
-            list = TMALLOC(double, 1);
+            list = NULL;
             for (;;) {
                 tmp = INPevaluate(&xsbuf, &error, 1);
                 if (error)