diff --git a/ssl/ssl_ciph.c b/ssl/ssl_ciph.c
index 60b9747..e792533 100644
--- a/ssl/ssl_ciph.c
+++ b/ssl/ssl_ciph.c
@@ -1262,8 +1262,9 @@
   if (buf == NULL) {
     len = 128;
     buf = OPENSSL_malloc(len);
-    if (buf == NULL)
-      return "OPENSSL_malloc Error";
+    if (buf == NULL) {
+      return NULL;
+    }
   } else if (len < 128) {
     return "Buffer too small";
   }