diff --git a/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c b/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
index be27e4632..cbaef3590 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
@@ -3177,7 +3177,7 @@ int wc_ecc_mulmod_ex2(const mp_int* k, ecc_point *G, ecc_point *R, mp_int* a,
 #endif
    int           i, err;
 #ifdef WOLFSSL_SMALL_STACK_CACHE
-   ecc_key       key;
+   ecc_key       *key = NULL;
 #endif
    mp_digit      mp;
 #ifdef ECC_TIMING_RESISTANT
@@ -3198,10 +3198,13 @@ int wc_ecc_mulmod_ex2(const mp_int* k, ecc_point *G, ecc_point *R, mp_int* a,
    XMEMSET(M, 0, sizeof(M));
 
 #ifdef WOLFSSL_SMALL_STACK_CACHE
-   err = ecc_key_tmp_init(&key, heap);
+   key = (ecc_key *)XMALLOC(sizeof(*key), heap, DYNAMIC_TYPE_ECC);
+   if (key == NULL)
+       return MEMORY_E;
+   err = ecc_key_tmp_init(key, heap);
    if (err != MP_OKAY)
       goto exit;
-   R->key = &key;
+   R->key = key;
 #endif /* WOLFSSL_SMALL_STACK_CACHE */
 
    /* alloc ram for window temps */
@@ -3214,7 +3217,7 @@ int wc_ecc_mulmod_ex2(const mp_int* k, ecc_point *G, ecc_point *R, mp_int* a,
          goto exit;
       }
 #ifdef WOLFSSL_SMALL_STACK_CACHE
-      M[i]->key = &key;
+      M[i]->key = key;
 #endif
   }
 
@@ -3288,7 +3291,8 @@ exit:
    }
 #ifdef WOLFSSL_SMALL_STACK_CACHE
    R->key = NULL;
-   ecc_key_tmp_final(&key, heap);
+   ecc_key_tmp_final(key, heap);
+   XFREE(key, heap, DYNAMIC_TYPE_ECC);
 #endif /* WOLFSSL_SMALL_STACK_CACHE */
 
    return err;