diff --git a/src/ssl.c b/src/ssl.c
index 53d187865..625fd7939 100644
--- a/src/ssl.c
+++ b/src/ssl.c
@@ -6981,7 +6981,6 @@ WOLFSSL_EVP_PKEY* wolfSSL_d2i_PrivateKey(int type, WOLFSSL_EVP_PKEY** out,
 
     if (out != NULL && *out != NULL) {
         wolfSSL_EVP_PKEY_free(*out);
-        local = *out;
     }
     local = wolfSSL_PKEY_new();