diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index bb53f9f19f..83b76cdd75 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+
+4.2.0-dev.205 | 2021-09-23 12:24:06 +0200
+
+  * Avoid allocation of duplicate zero-length strings for new
+    connections. (Justin Azoff, Corelight)
+
+  * Sanity-check the method passed into ActiveHTTP. Reported by Pierre
+    Gaulon. (Robin Sommer, Corelight)
+
 4.2.0-dev.203 | 2021-09-21 15:16:49 -0700
 
   * Sanitize log files names before they go into system(). (Robin Sommer, Corelight)
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index f552076e42..b89ddb470f 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4.2.0-dev.203
+4.2.0-dev.205
diff --git a/src/Conn.cc b/src/Conn.cc
index dc81cf045f..e11e149a8e 100644
--- a/src/Conn.cc
+++ b/src/Conn.cc
@@ -271,7 +271,9 @@ const RecordValPtr& Connection::GetVal()
 
 	conn_val->AssignTime(3, start_time); // ###
 	conn_val->AssignInterval(4, last_time - start_time);
-	conn_val->Assign(6, history);
+
+	if ( history.size() )
+		conn_val->Assign(6, history);
 
 	conn_val->SetOrigin(this);