diff --git a/crypto/x509/x509_vfy.c b/crypto/x509/x509_vfy.c
index f5face18df..6a47281170 100644
--- a/crypto/x509/x509_vfy.c
+++ b/crypto/x509/x509_vfy.c
@@ -405,7 +405,6 @@ X509_STORE_CTX *ctx;
 		}
 	ok=1;
 end:
-	EVP_PKEY_free(pkey);
 	return(ok);
 	}