diff --git a/test/provider_test.c b/test/provider_test.c
index 3268a287a2..2d20d12071 100644
--- a/test/provider_test.c
+++ b/test/provider_test.c
@@ -166,13 +166,15 @@ static int test_provider_ex(OSSL_LIB_CTX **libctx, const char *name)
     int ok = 0;
     long err;
     const char custom_buf[] = "Custom greeting";
-    OSSL_PARAM_BLD *bld = OSSL_PARAM_BLD_new();
+    OSSL_PARAM_BLD *bld = NULL;
     OSSL_PARAM *params = NULL;
 
-    OSSL_PARAM_BLD_push_utf8_string(bld, "greeting", custom_buf, strlen(custom_buf));
-    params = OSSL_PARAM_BLD_to_param(bld);
-
-    OSSL_PARAM_BLD_free(bld);
+    if (!TEST_ptr(bld = OSSL_PARAM_BLD_new())
+        || !TEST_true(OSSL_PARAM_BLD_push_utf8_string(bld, "greeting", custom_buf,
+                                                      strlen(custom_buf)))
+        || !TEST_ptr(params = OSSL_PARAM_BLD_to_param(bld))) {
+        goto err;
+    }
 
     if (!TEST_ptr(prov = OSSL_PROVIDER_load_ex(*libctx, name, params)))
         goto err;
@@ -204,6 +206,7 @@ static int test_provider_ex(OSSL_LIB_CTX **libctx, const char *name)
     ERR_print_errors_fp(stderr);
     ok = 1;
  err:
+    OSSL_PARAM_BLD_free(bld);
     OSSL_PARAM_free(params);
     OSSL_PROVIDER_unload(prov);
     OSSL_LIB_CTX_free(*libctx);