diff --git a/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c b/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
index 359bcee76..dbe762c06 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
@@ -7654,7 +7654,8 @@ int wc_ecc_free(ecc_key* key)
     mp_clear(key->pubkey.y);
     mp_clear(key->pubkey.z);
 
-    mp_forcezero(key->k);
+    if (key->k)
+        mp_forcezero(key->k);
 
 #ifdef WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CURVES
     if (key->deallocSet && key->dp != NULL)