diff --git a/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c b/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c
index 9c6419b..2fc0673 100644
--- a/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c
+++ b/crypto/pem/pem_pk8.c
@@ -113,12 +113,11 @@
   }
   if (enc || (nid != -1)) {
     if (!pass) {
-      pass_len = 0;
       if (!cb) {
         cb = PEM_def_callback;
       }
       pass_len = cb(buf, PEM_BUFSIZE, 1, u);
-      if (pass_len <= 0) {
+      if (pass_len < 0) {
         OPENSSL_PUT_ERROR(PEM, PEM_R_READ_KEY);
         PKCS8_PRIV_KEY_INFO_free(p8inf);
         return 0;
@@ -166,7 +165,7 @@
     cb = PEM_def_callback;
   }
   pass_len = cb(psbuf, PEM_BUFSIZE, 0, u);
-  if (pass_len <= 0) {
+  if (pass_len < 0) {
     OPENSSL_PUT_ERROR(PEM, PEM_R_BAD_PASSWORD_READ);
     X509_SIG_free(p8);
     return NULL;