diff --git a/crypto/encode_decode/decoder_pkey.c b/crypto/encode_decode/decoder_pkey.c
index 7f468c2476..e04b94de86 100644
--- a/crypto/encode_decode/decoder_pkey.c
+++ b/crypto/encode_decode/decoder_pkey.c
@@ -289,6 +289,8 @@ static void collect_decoder(OSSL_DECODER *decoder, void *arg)
         return;
 
     data->error_occured = 1;         /* Assume the worst */
+    if (data->names == NULL)
+        return;
 
     end_i = sk_OPENSSL_CSTRING_num(data->names);
     for (i = 0; i < end_i; i++) {