diff --git a/src/pki/commands/issue.c b/src/pki/commands/issue.c
index b0399c78b..e41c56d08 100644
--- a/src/pki/commands/issue.c
+++ b/src/pki/commands/issue.c
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ static int issue()
 		goto end;
 	}
 	public->destroy(public);
+	public = NULL;
 
 	if (hex)
 	{