bash dumps core on Alpha when bogus pointer is dereferenced

[jkh]

Configuration Information [Automatically generated, do not change]:
Machine: alpha
OS: freebsd4.2
Compiler: cc
Compilation CFLAGS:  -DPROGRAM='bash' -DCONF_HOSTTYPE='alpha' 
-DCONF_OSTYPE='freebsd4.2' -DCONF_MACHTYPE='alpha--freebsd4.2' -DCONF_VENDOR='' 
-DSHELL  -DHAVE_CONFIG_H   -I. -I/usr/local/include -I. -I./include -I./lib 
-I/usr/local/include -O -pipe
uname output: FreeBSD rawhide.osd.bsdi.com 4.2-RELEASE FreeBSD 4.2-RELEASE #0: 
Tue Nov 21 03:36:35 PST 2000     
jkh@rawhide.osd.bsdi.com:/1/obj/usr/src/sys/GENERIC  alpha
Machine Type: alpha--freebsd4.2

Bash Version: 2.04
Patch Level: 0
Release Status: release

Description:
        One of the shell functions in my .bashrc attempts to iteratively
        set $PATH by walking through a series of prefix directories
        and looking for ${prefix}/bin, then appending that to PATH.  When
        this function is run on the Alpha, bash dumps core at line 303
        of unwind_prot.c (the FASTCOPY) due to "value" being set to garbage.
        Tracing back up the stack, we see that on line 2775 of execute_cmd.c,
        unwind_protect_pointer() is called with "this_shell_function" as
        an argument and that pointer is invalid.  Just below this clause,
        you see this_shell_function set to "var".  If this clause is moved
        above the test for subshell == 0, the error no longer occurs.

Repeat-By:
        Use my unmodified .bashrc on an alpha.  I'll be happy to send it to
        you if you want it.

Fix:
        See description section.