diff --git a/bgpd/bgpd.c b/bgpd/bgpd.c
index c2254ae791e9..ba0a62185103 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgpd.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgpd.c
@@ -3403,7 +3403,8 @@ static struct bgp *bgp_create(as_t *as, const char *name,
 
 	if (hidden) {
 		bgp = bgp_old;
-		goto peer_init;
+	} else {
+		bgp = XCALLOC(MTYPE_BGP, sizeof(struct bgp));
 	}
 
 	bgp = XCALLOC(MTYPE_BGP, sizeof(struct bgp));
@@ -3413,6 +3414,10 @@ static struct bgp *bgp_create(as_t *as, const char *name,
 	else
 		bgp->as_pretty = XSTRDUP(MTYPE_BGP_NAME, asn_asn2asplain(*as));
 
+	if (hidden) {
+		goto peer_init;
+	}
+
 	if (asnotation != ASNOTATION_UNDEFINED) {
 		bgp->asnotation = asnotation;
 		SET_FLAG(bgp->config, BGP_CONFIG_ASNOTATION);