diff --git a/src/crypto/x509.c b/src/crypto/x509.c
index 18a8cebe..2180173b 100644
--- a/src/crypto/x509.c
+++ b/src/crypto/x509.c
@@ -1068,6 +1068,7 @@ int x509_certificate ( const void *data, size_t len,
 	/* Parse certificate */
 	if ( ( rc = x509_parse ( *cert, &cursor ) ) != 0 ) {
 		x509_put ( *cert );
+		*cert = NULL;
 		return rc;
 	}