diff --git a/library/pkparse.c b/library/pkparse.c
index 127f9b8..ae210bc 100644
--- a/library/pkparse.c
+++ b/library/pkparse.c
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@
     unsigned char *buf;
 
     PK_VALIDATE_RET( ctx != NULL );
+    PK_VALIDATE_RET( path != NULL );
 
     if( ( ret = mbedtls_pk_load_file( path, &buf, &n ) ) != 0 )
         return( ret );
@@ -161,6 +162,7 @@
     unsigned char *buf;
 
     PK_VALIDATE_RET( ctx != NULL );
+    PK_VALIDATE_RET( path != NULL );
 
     if( ( ret = mbedtls_pk_load_file( path, &buf, &n ) ) != 0 )
         return( ret );