diff --git a/g10/getkey.c b/g10/getkey.c
index e450c5655..5f118ea7d 100644
--- a/g10/getkey.c
+++ b/g10/getkey.c
@@ -2923,6 +2923,9 @@ get_ctx_handle (GETKEY_CTX ctx)
 static void
 free_akl (struct akl *akl)
 {
+  if (! akl)
+    return;
+
   if (akl->spec)
     free_keyserver_spec (akl->spec);