diff --git a/src/internal.c b/src/internal.c
index c69309e72..39fc8fdf7 100644
--- a/src/internal.c
+++ b/src/internal.c
@@ -13353,6 +13353,7 @@ int LoadCertByIssuer(WOLFSSL_X509_STORE* store, X509_NAME* issuer, int type)
         }
 
         XFREE(filename, NULL, DYNAMIC_TYPE_OPENSSL);
+        filename = NULL;
     }
 #else
     (void) type;