diff --git a/tests/tools/plugins/async_engine.c b/tests/tools/plugins/async_engine.c
index b596b418050..4fb349ab37f 100644
--- a/tests/tools/plugins/async_engine.c
+++ b/tests/tools/plugins/async_engine.c
@@ -73,10 +73,14 @@ EVP_PKEY *
 async_load_privkey(ENGINE *e, const char *s_key_id, UI_METHOD *ui_method, void *callback_data)
 {
   fprintf(stderr, "Loading key %s\n", s_key_id);
-  FILE *f       = fopen(s_key_id, "r");
-  EVP_PKEY *key = PEM_read_PrivateKey(f, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-  fclose(f);
-  return key;
+  FILE *f = fopen(s_key_id, "r");
+  if (f) {
+    EVP_PKEY *key = PEM_read_PrivateKey(f, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+    fclose(f);
+    return key;
+  } else {
+    return NULL;
+  }
 }
 
 static int