diff --git a/src/ssl.c b/src/ssl.c
index dd17faa44..36ae2502b 100644
--- a/src/ssl.c
+++ b/src/ssl.c
@@ -31897,6 +31897,7 @@ int SetDhExternal(WOLFSSL_DH *dh)
 
     if (dh == NULL || dh->internal == NULL) {
         WOLFSSL_MSG("dh key NULL error");
+        return WOLFSSL_FATAL_ERROR;
     }
 
     key = (DhKey*)dh->internal;