diff --git a/core/src/main/java/net/metanotion/util/skiplist/SkipSpan.java b/core/src/main/java/net/metanotion/util/skiplist/SkipSpan.java
index 9ba69ca7..f54c2732 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/net/metanotion/util/skiplist/SkipSpan.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/net/metanotion/util/skiplist/SkipSpan.java
@@ -103,7 +103,9 @@ public abstract class SkipSpan {
 		int loc = binarySearch(key);
 		if(loc < 0) { return null; }
 		loadVals();
-		return vals[loc];
+		Object rv = vals[loc];
+		vals = null;
+		return rv;
 	}
 
 	private void pushTogether(int hole) {