diff --git a/wolfcrypt/src/evp.c b/wolfcrypt/src/evp.c
index 7dfa159227..d4dd514297 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/src/evp.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/src/evp.c
@@ -9850,6 +9850,7 @@ static int ECC_populate_EVP_PKEY(WOLFSSL_EVP_PKEY* pkey, WOLFSSL_EC_KEY *key)
                         1)) < 0) {
                     XFREE(derBuf, NULL, DYNAMIC_TYPE_OPENSSL);
                     derBuf = NULL;
+                    pkey->pkey.ptr = NULL;
                 }
             }
         }