diff --git a/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_index.c b/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_index.c
index eac0cabb0c..1bfd5a51b1 100644
--- a/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_index.c
+++ b/legacy/elementary/src/lib/elm_index.c
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@ _item_free(Elm_Index_Item *it)
    ELM_INDEX_DATA_GET(WIDGET(it), sd);
 
    sd->items = eina_list_remove(sd->items, it);
-   if (it->letter) eina_stringshare_del(it->letter);
+   if (it->letter) {
+	   eina_stringshare_del(it->letter);
+	   it->letter = NULL;
+   }
 }
 
 static void