diff --git a/src/kernel/faction.test.c b/src/kernel/faction.test.c
index 31747bd6c..b59a46f63 100644
--- a/src/kernel/faction.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/faction.test.c
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ static void test_remove_empty_factions(CuTest *tc) {
 static void test_remove_dead_factions(CuTest *tc) {
     faction *f, *fm;
     region *r;
+    int fno;
 
     test_cleanup();
     r = test_create_region(0, 0, 0);
@@ -60,8 +61,9 @@ static void test_remove_dead_factions(CuTest *tc) {
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, get_monsters());
     fm->alive = 0;
     f->alive = 0;
+    fno = f->no;
     remove_empty_factions();
-    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, findfaction(f->no));
+    CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, findfaction(fno));
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, fm, get_monsters());
     test_cleanup();
 }