diff --git a/lib/hcrypto/rsa.c b/lib/hcrypto/rsa.c
index 63f8927a2..1c919325f 100644
--- a/lib/hcrypto/rsa.c
+++ b/lib/hcrypto/rsa.c
@@ -99,11 +99,13 @@ RSA_new_method(ENGINE *engine)
 	rsa->engine = ENGINE_get_default_RSA();
     }
 
-    rsa->meth = ENGINE_get_RSA(rsa->engine);
-    if (rsa->meth == NULL) {
-	ENGINE_finish(engine);
-	free(rsa);
-	return 0;
+    if (rsa->engine) {
+	rsa->meth = ENGINE_get_RSA(rsa->engine);
+	if (rsa->meth == NULL) {
+	    ENGINE_finish(engine);
+	    free(rsa);
+	    return 0;
+	}
     }
 
     if (rsa->meth == NULL)