diff --git a/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c b/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c
index b98c76c4a..5747c7366 100644
--- a/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c
+++ b/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ static int do_pk8pkey(BIO *bp, EVP_PKEY *x, int isder, int nid,
         if (kstr == buf)
             OPENSSL_cleanse(buf, klen);
         PKCS8_PRIV_KEY_INFO_free(p8inf);
+        if (p8 == NULL)
+            return 0;
         if (isder)
             ret = i2d_PKCS8_bio(bp, p8);
         else