diff --git a/authfile.c b/authfile.c
index 9ed4f4c3a..445f2dd54 100644
--- a/authfile.c
+++ b/authfile.c
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* $OpenBSD: authfile.c,v 1.143 2022/06/21 14:52:13 tobhe Exp $ */
+/* $OpenBSD: authfile.c,v 1.144 2023/03/14 07:26:25 dtucker Exp $ */
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2000, 2013 Markus Friedl.  All rights reserved.
  *
@@ -211,6 +211,8 @@ sshkey_try_load_public(struct sshkey **kp, const char *filename,
 	int r;
 	struct sshkey *k = NULL;
 
+	if (kp == NULL)
+		return SSH_ERR_INVALID_ARGUMENT;
 	*kp = NULL;
 	if (commentp != NULL)
 		*commentp = NULL;