diff --git a/ogr/ogrsf_frmts/mitab/mitab_tabview.cpp b/ogr/ogrsf_frmts/mitab/mitab_tabview.cpp
index ba194d8d054a..466e067165d3 100644
--- a/ogr/ogrsf_frmts/mitab/mitab_tabview.cpp
+++ b/ogr/ogrsf_frmts/mitab/mitab_tabview.cpp
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ int TABView::OpenForRead(const char *pszFname,
         }
 
         CPLFree(m_pszFname);
+        m_pszFname = nullptr;
         return -1;
     }
 
@@ -219,6 +220,7 @@ int TABView::OpenForRead(const char *pszFname,
             CPLErrorReset();
 
         CPLFree(m_pszFname);
+        m_pszFname = nullptr;
 
         return -1;
     }