diff --git a/grub-core/lib/libgcrypt/mpi/mpicoder.c b/grub-core/lib/libgcrypt/mpi/mpicoder.c
index 7ecad27b2..6fe389165 100644
--- a/grub-core/lib/libgcrypt/mpi/mpicoder.c
+++ b/grub-core/lib/libgcrypt/mpi/mpicoder.c
@@ -379,6 +379,9 @@ gcry_mpi_scan (struct gcry_mpi **ret_mpi, enum gcry_mpi_format format,
   unsigned int len;
   int secure = (buffer && gcry_is_secure (buffer));
 
+  if (!buffer)
+    return gcry_error (GPG_ERR_INV_ARG);
+
   if (format == GCRYMPI_FMT_SSH)
     len = 0;
   else