diff --git a/src/internal.c b/src/internal.c
index 92a9de033..8005c2699 100644
--- a/src/internal.c
+++ b/src/internal.c
@@ -11700,8 +11700,13 @@ static int ProcessPeerCertParse(WOLFSSL* ssl, ProcPeerCertArgs* args,
     int sigRet = 0;
 #endif
 
-    if (ssl == NULL || args == NULL || args->dCert == NULL)
+    if (ssl == NULL || args == NULL
+    #ifndef WOLFSSL_SMALL_CERT_VERIFY
+        || args->dCert == NULL
+    #endif
+    ) {
         return BAD_FUNC_ARG;
+    }
 
     /* check to make sure certificate index is valid */
     if (args->certIdx > args->count)