diff --git a/src/eng_front.c b/src/eng_front.c
index 5fe8f55..286aaa9 100644
--- a/src/eng_front.c
+++ b/src/eng_front.c
@@ -233,11 +233,9 @@ static EVP_PKEY *load_privkey(ENGINE *engine, const char *s_key_id,
 #ifdef EVP_F_EVP_PKEY_SET1_ENGINE
 	/* EVP_PKEY_set1_engine() is required for OpenSSL 1.1.x,
 	 * but otherwise setting pkey->engine breaks OpenSSL 1.0.2 */
-	if (pkey) {
-		if (!EVP_PKEY_set1_engine(pkey, engine)) {
-			EVP_PKEY_free(pkey);
-			return NULL;
-		}
+	if (pkey && !EVP_PKEY_set1_engine(pkey, engine)) {
+		EVP_PKEY_free(pkey);
+		pkey = NULL;
 	}
 #endif /* EVP_F_EVP_PKEY_SET1_ENGINE */
 	return pkey;