diff --git a/src/browser.c b/src/browser.c
index b7b8560d..4d784bde 100644
--- a/src/browser.c
+++ b/src/browser.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ char *do_browser(char *path)
   read_directory_contents:
 	/* We come here when we refresh or select a new directory. */
 
-    path = mallocstrassn(path, get_full_path(path));
+    path = free_and_assign(path, get_full_path(path));
 
     if (path != NULL)
 	dir = opendir(path);
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ char *do_browser(char *path)
 	    sunder(answer);
 	    align(&answer);
 
-	    path = mallocstrassn(path, real_dir_from_tilde(answer));
+	    path = free_and_assign(path, real_dir_from_tilde(answer));
 
 	    /* If the given path is relative, join it with the current path. */
 	    if (*path != '/') {
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ char *do_browse_from(const char *inpath)
      * at all.  If so, we'll just pass the current directory to
      * do_browser(). */
     if (stat(path, &st) == -1 || !S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
-	path = mallocstrassn(path, striponedir(path));
+	path = free_and_assign(path, striponedir(path));
 
 	if (stat(path, &st) == -1 || !S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)) {
 	    char * currentdir = charalloc(PATH_MAX + 1);
diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index b22bfab6..62d0ca05 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ void do_insertfile(
 	    {
 		/* Make sure the path to the file specified in answer is
 		 * tilde-expanded. */
-		answer = mallocstrassn(answer, real_dir_from_tilde(answer));
+		answer = free_and_assign(answer, real_dir_from_tilde(answer));
 
 		/* Save the file specified in answer in the current buffer. */
 		open_buffer(answer, TRUE);
diff --git a/src/proto.h b/src/proto.h
index 3e201e16..497d985a 100644
--- a/src/proto.h
+++ b/src/proto.h
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ void *nmalloc(size_t howmuch);
 void *nrealloc(void *ptr, size_t howmuch);
 char *mallocstrncpy(char *dest, const char *src, size_t n);
 char *mallocstrcpy(char *dest, const char *src);
-char *mallocstrassn(char *dest, char *src);
+char *free_and_assign(char *dest, char *src);
 size_t get_page_start(size_t column);
 size_t xplustabs(void);
 size_t actual_x(const char *s, size_t column);
diff --git a/src/utils.c b/src/utils.c
index b1f25ddc..4b661501 100644
--- a/src/utils.c
+++ b/src/utils.c
@@ -427,10 +427,8 @@ char *mallocstrcpy(char *dest, const char *src)
     return mallocstrncpy(dest, src, (src == NULL) ? 1 : strlen(src) + 1);
 }
 
-/* Free the malloc()ed string at dest and return the malloc()ed string
- * at src.  Should be used as: "answer = mallocstrassn(answer,
- * real_dir_from_tilde(answer));". */
-char *mallocstrassn(char *dest, char *src)
+/* Free the string at dest and return the string at src. */
+char *free_and_assign(char *dest, char *src)
 {
     free(dest);
     return src;