diff --git a/programs/pkey/rsa_verify.c b/programs/pkey/rsa_verify.c
index ade36dc..a22b555 100644
--- a/programs/pkey/rsa_verify.c
+++ b/programs/pkey/rsa_verify.c
@@ -61,7 +61,9 @@
     unsigned char buf[MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_SIZE];
     char filename[512];
 
+    mbedtls_rsa_init( &rsa, MBEDTLS_RSA_PKCS_V15, 0 );
     ret = 1;
+
     if( argc != 2 )
     {
         mbedtls_printf( "usage: rsa_verify <filename>\n" );
@@ -83,8 +85,6 @@
         goto exit;
     }
 
-    mbedtls_rsa_init( &rsa, MBEDTLS_RSA_PKCS_V15, 0 );
-
     if( ( ret = mbedtls_mpi_read_file( &rsa.N, 16, f ) ) != 0 ||
         ( ret = mbedtls_mpi_read_file( &rsa.E, 16, f ) ) != 0 )
     {
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@
 
 exit:
 
+    mbedtls_rsa_free( &rsa );
+
 #if defined(_WIN32)
     mbedtls_printf( "  + Press Enter to exit this program.\n" );
     fflush( stdout ); getchar();