diff --git a/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c b/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c
index de977214..7ae146a1 100644
--- a/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c
+++ b/lib/libalpm/alpm_list.c
@@ -417,6 +417,7 @@ alpm_list_t SYMEXPORT *alpm_list_reverse(alpm_list_t *list)
 	while(lp) {
 		if(alpm_list_append(&newlist, lp->data) == NULL) {
 			alpm_list_free(newlist);
+			list->prev = backup;
 			return NULL;
 		}
 		lp = lp->prev;