diff --git a/config/krb5conf.go b/config/krb5conf.go
index 8efe92d8..503e1a58 100644
--- a/config/krb5conf.go
+++ b/config/krb5conf.go
@@ -444,6 +444,9 @@ func parseRealms(lines []string) (realms []Realm, err error) {
 			}
 			c--
 			if c == 0 {
+				if start == i {
+					return nil, errors.New("invalid Realms section in configuration")
+				}
 				var r Realm
 				e := r.parseLines(name, lines[start+1:i])
 				if e != nil {
diff --git a/v8/config/krb5conf.go b/v8/config/krb5conf.go
index a7638433..a24778c2 100644
--- a/v8/config/krb5conf.go
+++ b/v8/config/krb5conf.go
@@ -439,6 +439,9 @@ func parseRealms(lines []string) (realms []Realm, err error) {
 			}
 			c--
 			if c == 0 {
+				if start == i {
+					return nil, errors.New("invalid Realms section in configuration")
+				}
 				var r Realm
 				e := r.parseLines(name, lines[start+1:i])
 				if e != nil {