diff --git a/src/detect-engine-build.c b/src/detect-engine-build.c
index c13264f88e..e6804b57b3 100644
--- a/src/detect-engine-build.c
+++ b/src/detect-engine-build.c
@@ -1244,7 +1244,6 @@ static DetectPort *RulesGroupByPorts(DetectEngineCtx *de_ctx, uint8_t ipproto, u
         BUG_ON(r == -1);
     }
     DetectPortHashFree(de_ctx);
-    de_ctx->dport_hash_table = NULL;
 
     SCLogDebug("rules analyzed");