diff --git a/src/ssl.c b/src/ssl.c
index 88527a3a2..a1c7c70ea 100644
--- a/src/ssl.c
+++ b/src/ssl.c
@@ -3888,8 +3888,10 @@ error:
     if (sk)
         wolfSSL_sk_X509_free(sk);
 
-    for (i = 0; i < numCerts && certBuffers[i] != NULL; ++i) {
-        FreeDer(&certBuffers[i]);
+    if (certBuffers != NULL) {
+        for (i = 0; i < numCerts && certBuffers[i] != NULL; ++i) {
+            FreeDer(&certBuffers[i]);
+        }
     }
 
     if (certBuffers)