diff --git a/src/backend/replication/libpqwalreceiver/libpqwalreceiver.c b/src/backend/replication/libpqwalreceiver/libpqwalreceiver.c
index 6bc0aa1c12c..1cb2c6e524d 100644
--- a/src/backend/replication/libpqwalreceiver/libpqwalreceiver.c
+++ b/src/backend/replication/libpqwalreceiver/libpqwalreceiver.c
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ libpqrcv_identify_system(TimeLineID *primary_tli)
 			 GetSystemIdentifier());
 	if (strcmp(primary_sysid, standby_sysid) != 0)
 	{
+		primary_sysid = pstrdup(primary_sysid);
 		PQclear(res);
 		ereport(ERROR,
 				(errmsg("database system identifier differs between the primary and standby"),