diff --git a/src/x509.c b/src/x509.c
index 9caf3a626..908448320 100644
--- a/src/x509.c
+++ b/src/x509.c
@@ -13965,7 +13965,9 @@ int wolfSSL_X509_REQ_add1_attr_by_NID(WOLFSSL_X509 *req,
     else {
         if (req->reqAttributes == NULL) {
             req->reqAttributes = wolfSSL_sk_new_node(req->heap);
-            req->reqAttributes->type = STACK_TYPE_X509_REQ_ATTR;
+            if (req->reqAttributes != NULL) {
+                req->reqAttributes->type = STACK_TYPE_X509_REQ_ATTR;
+            }
         }
         ret = wolfSSL_sk_push(req->reqAttributes, attr);
     }