diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index 6bf5452..6d5ed19 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -7758,6 +7758,7 @@
  */
 static garray_T augroups = {0, 0, sizeof(char_u *), 10, NULL};
 #define AUGROUP_NAME(i) (((char_u **)augroups.ga_data)[i])
+/* use get_deleted_augroup() to get this */
 static char_u *deleted_augroup = NULL;
 
 /*
@@ -7790,6 +7791,14 @@
 static int	last_group;
 static int	autocmd_blocked = 0;	/* block all autocmds */
 
+    static char_u *
+get_deleted_augroup(void)
+{
+    if (deleted_augroup == NULL)
+	deleted_augroup = (char_u *)_("--Deleted--");
+    return deleted_augroup;
+}
+
 /*
  * Show the autocommands for one AutoPat.
  */
@@ -7813,7 +7822,7 @@
 	if (ap->group != AUGROUP_DEFAULT)
 	{
 	    if (AUGROUP_NAME(ap->group) == NULL)
-		msg_puts_attr(deleted_augroup, hl_attr(HLF_E));
+		msg_puts_attr(get_deleted_augroup(), hl_attr(HLF_E));
 	    else
 		msg_puts_attr(AUGROUP_NAME(ap->group), hl_attr(HLF_T));
 	    msg_puts((char_u *)"  ");
@@ -8029,9 +8038,7 @@
 	vim_free(AUGROUP_NAME(i));
 	if (in_use)
 	{
-	    if (deleted_augroup == NULL)
-		deleted_augroup = (char_u *)_("--Deleted--");
-	    AUGROUP_NAME(i) = deleted_augroup;
+	    AUGROUP_NAME(i) = get_deleted_augroup();
 	}
 	else
 	    AUGROUP_NAME(i) = NULL;
@@ -8048,7 +8055,7 @@
     int	    i;
 
     for (i = 0; i < augroups.ga_len; ++i)
-	if (AUGROUP_NAME(i) != NULL && AUGROUP_NAME(i) != deleted_augroup
+	if (AUGROUP_NAME(i) != NULL && AUGROUP_NAME(i) != get_deleted_augroup()
 		&& STRCMP(AUGROUP_NAME(i), name) == 0)
 	    return i;
     return AUGROUP_ERROR;
@@ -8116,7 +8123,7 @@
     for (i = 0; i < augroups.ga_len; ++i)
     {
 	s = ((char_u **)(augroups.ga_data))[i];
-	if (s != deleted_augroup)
+	if (s != get_deleted_augroup())
 	    vim_free(s);
     }
     ga_clear(&augroups);
@@ -9865,7 +9872,7 @@
 	return (char_u *)"END";
     if (idx >= augroups.ga_len)		/* end of list */
 	return NULL;
-    if (AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == NULL || AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == deleted_augroup)
+    if (AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == NULL || AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == get_deleted_augroup())
 	/* skip deleted entries */
 	return (char_u *)"";
     return AUGROUP_NAME(idx);		/* return a name */
@@ -9931,7 +9938,7 @@
     if (idx < augroups.ga_len)		/* First list group names, if wanted */
     {
 	if (!include_groups || AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == NULL
-				       || AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == deleted_augroup)
+				 || AUGROUP_NAME(idx) == get_deleted_augroup())
 	    return (char_u *)"";	/* skip deleted entries */
 	return AUGROUP_NAME(idx);	/* return a name */
     }