diff --git a/redis.c b/redis.c
index 76682d82..eab76212 100644
--- a/redis.c
+++ b/redis.c
@@ -5412,8 +5412,10 @@ static zskiplistNode *zslCreateNode(int level, double score, robj *obj) {
     zskiplistNode *zn = zmalloc(sizeof(*zn));
 
     zn->forward = zmalloc(sizeof(zskiplistNode*) * level);
-    if (level > 0)
+    if (level > 1)
         zn->span = zmalloc(sizeof(unsigned int) * (level - 1));
+    else
+        zn->span = NULL;
     zn->score = score;
     zn->obj = obj;
     return zn;