diff --git a/bin/pax/cache.c b/bin/pax/cache.c
index 9ae4d8994df7..b95c8b51fd3a 100644
--- a/bin/pax/cache.c
+++ b/bin/pax/cache.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ name_uid(uid_t uid, int frc)
 		++pwopn;
 	}
 	if (ptr == NULL)
-		ptr = (UIDC *)malloc(sizeof(UIDC));
+		ptr = uidtb[uid % UID_SZ] = (UIDC *)malloc(sizeof(UIDC));
 
 	if ((pw = getpwuid(uid)) == NULL) {
 		/*
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ name_gid(gid_t gid, int frc)
 		++gropn;
 	}
 	if (ptr == NULL)
-		ptr = (GIDC *)malloc(sizeof(GIDC));
+		ptr = gidtb[gid % GID_SZ] = (GIDC *)malloc(sizeof(GIDC));
 
 	if ((gr = getgrgid(gid)) == NULL) {
 		/*