diff --git a/ssl/ssl_lib.c b/ssl/ssl_lib.c
index 0b30ccf9183860d17d367c832bbfbd99d34137cb..72b7e3aa4e2af3cc153be0d0d8f4e49d1178eeda 100644
--- a/ssl/ssl_lib.c
+++ b/ssl/ssl_lib.c
@@ -575,6 +575,8 @@ int SSL_check_private_key(SSL *ssl)
 		SSLerr(SSL_F_SSL_CHECK_PRIVATE_KEY,ERR_R_PASSED_NULL_PARAMETER);
 		return(0);
 		}
+	if (ssl->cert == NULL)
+		return 0;
 	if (ssl->cert->key->x509 == NULL)
 		{
 		SSLerr(SSL_F_SSL_CHECK_PRIVATE_KEY,SSL_R_NO_CERTIFICATE_ASSIGNED);