diff --git a/libbitdht/src/bitdht/bencode.c b/libbitdht/src/bitdht/bencode.c
index 598dc7615..2a486daca 100644
--- a/libbitdht/src/bitdht/bencode.c
+++ b/libbitdht/src/bitdht/bencode.c
@@ -209,7 +209,10 @@ static be_node *_be_decode(const char **data, long long *data_len)
 #ifdef BE_DEBUG_DECODE 
 			fprintf(stderr, "bencode::_be_decode() dictionary get val\n");
 #endif
-				ret->val.d[i].val = _be_decode(data, data_len);
+				ret->val.d[i  ].val = _be_decode(data, data_len);
+				ret->val.d[i+1].val = NULL ; // ensures termination of loops based on 0x0 value, otherwise, uninitialized 
+													  // memory occurs if(ret->val.d[i].key == 0x0 && ret->val.d[i].val != NULL)
+													  // when calling be_free 8 lines below this point...
 
 				if ((ret->val.d[i].key == NULL) || (ret->val.d[i].val == NULL))
 				{