diff --git a/src/internal.c b/src/internal.c
index e0f3c899b..d5c3008df 100644
--- a/src/internal.c
+++ b/src/internal.c
@@ -8707,11 +8707,10 @@ static int SendHandshakeMsg(WOLFSSL* ssl, byte* input, word32 inputSz,
             outputSz += cipherExtraData(ssl);
         if ((ret = CheckAvailableSize(ssl, outputSz)) != 0)
             return ret;
+        if (ssl->buffers.outputBuffer.buffer == NULL)
+            return MEMORY_E;
         output = ssl->buffers.outputBuffer.buffer +
                  ssl->buffers.outputBuffer.length;
-        /* scan-build complains that this may be null */
-        if (output == NULL)
-            return MEMORY_E;
 
         if (IsEncryptionOn(ssl, 1)) {
             /* First we need to add the fragment header ourselves.