diff --git a/crypto/conf/conf_lib.c b/crypto/conf/conf_lib.c
index 99e9f8c987b34..24cf40449788c 100644
--- a/crypto/conf/conf_lib.c
+++ b/crypto/conf/conf_lib.c
@@ -476,6 +476,9 @@ int OPENSSL_INIT_set_config_appname(OPENSSL_INIT_SETTINGS *settings,
 
 void OPENSSL_INIT_free(OPENSSL_INIT_SETTINGS *settings)
 {
+    if (settings == NULL)
+        return;
+
     free(settings->filename);
     free(settings->appname);
     free(settings);