diff --git a/crypto/dsa/dsa_ameth.c b/crypto/dsa/dsa_ameth.c
index aa3f55e218..50273b03f3 100644
--- a/crypto/dsa/dsa_ameth.c
+++ b/crypto/dsa/dsa_ameth.c
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ static int dsa_priv_encode(PKCS8_PRIV_KEY_INFO *p8, const EVP_PKEY *pkey)
 	unsigned char *dp = NULL;
 	int dplen;
 
-	if (!pkey->pkey.dsa->priv_key)
+	if (!pkey->pkey.dsa || !pkey->pkey.dsa->priv_key)
 		{
 		DSAerr(DSA_F_DSA_PRIV_ENCODE,DSA_R_MISSING_PARAMETERS);
 		goto err;
@@ -717,4 +717,3 @@ const EVP_PKEY_ASN1_METHOD dsa_asn1_meths[] =
 		old_dsa_priv_encode
 		}
 	};
-