diff --git a/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c b/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c
index 24f4458cb..216974dc2 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c
+++ b/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create(const char *host, const char *port, const char *cpumask
 	assert(host != NULL);
 	assert(port != NULL);
 
-	if (strlen(host) > MAX_PORTAL_ADDR) {
+	if (strlen(host) > MAX_PORTAL_ADDR || strlen(port) > MAX_PORTAL_PORT) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
@@ -143,11 +143,7 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create(const char *host, const char *port, const char *cpumask
 		memcpy(p->host, host, strlen(host));
 	}
 
-	p->port = strdup(port);
-	if (!p->port) {
-		SPDK_ERRLOG("strdup() failed for host\n");
-		goto error_out;
-	}
+	memcpy(p->port, port, strlen(port));
 
 	core_mask = spdk_cpuset_alloc();
 	if (!core_mask) {
@@ -191,7 +187,6 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_create(const char *host, const char *port, const char *cpumask
 
 error_out:
 	spdk_cpuset_free(core_mask);
-	free(p->port);
 	free(p);
 
 	return NULL;
@@ -208,7 +203,6 @@ spdk_iscsi_portal_destroy(struct spdk_iscsi_portal *p)
 	TAILQ_REMOVE(&g_spdk_iscsi.portal_head, p, g_tailq);
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&g_spdk_iscsi.mutex);
 
-	free(p->port);
 	spdk_cpuset_free(p->cpumask);
 	free(p);
 
diff --git a/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.h b/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.h
index 904a4c07e..3aacec09a 100644
--- a/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.h
+++ b/lib/iscsi/portal_grp.h
@@ -39,13 +39,14 @@
 #include "spdk/cpuset.h"
 
 #define MAX_PORTAL_ADDR	256
+#define MAX_PORTAL_PORT	32
 
 struct spdk_json_write_ctx;
 
 struct spdk_iscsi_portal {
 	struct spdk_iscsi_portal_grp	*group;
 	char				host[MAX_PORTAL_ADDR + 1];
-	char				*port;
+	char				port[MAX_PORTAL_PORT + 1];
 	struct spdk_sock		*sock;
 	struct spdk_cpuset		*cpumask;
 	struct spdk_poller		*acceptor_poller;
diff --git a/test/unit/lib/iscsi/tgt_node.c/tgt_node_ut.c b/test/unit/lib/iscsi/tgt_node.c/tgt_node_ut.c
index 71280738b..08099658a 100644
--- a/test/unit/lib/iscsi/tgt_node.c/tgt_node_ut.c
+++ b/test/unit/lib/iscsi/tgt_node.c/tgt_node_ut.c
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ node_access_allowed(void)
 	memset(&portal, 0, sizeof(struct spdk_iscsi_portal));
 	portal.group = &pg;
 	snprintf(portal.host, sizeof(portal.host), "192.168.2.0");
-	portal.port = "3260";
+	snprintf(portal.port, sizeof(portal.port), "3260");
 
 	/* input for UT */
 	memset(&conn, 0, sizeof(struct spdk_iscsi_conn));
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ node_access_denied_by_empty_netmask(void)
 	memset(&portal, 0, sizeof(struct spdk_iscsi_portal));
 	portal.group = &pg;
 	snprintf(portal.host, sizeof(portal.host), "192.168.2.0");
-	portal.port = "3260";
+	snprintf(portal.port, sizeof(portal.port), "3260");
 
 	/* input for UT */
 	memset(&conn, 0, sizeof(struct spdk_iscsi_conn));
@@ -533,7 +533,7 @@ node_access_multi_initiator_groups_cases(void)
 	memset(&portal, 0, sizeof(struct spdk_iscsi_portal));
 	portal.group = &pg;
 	snprintf(portal.host, sizeof(portal.host), IP1);
-	portal.port = "3260";
+	snprintf(portal.port, sizeof(portal.port), "3260");
 
 	/* connection initialization */
 	memset(&conn, 0, sizeof(struct spdk_iscsi_conn));