diff --git a/src/event/quic/ngx_event_quic.c b/src/event/quic/ngx_event_quic.c
index 09ce4b81e..b6f1f080d 100644
--- a/src/event/quic/ngx_event_quic.c
+++ b/src/event/quic/ngx_event_quic.c
@@ -1033,7 +1033,9 @@ ngx_quic_handle_payload(ngx_connection_t *c, ngx_quic_header_t *pkt)
         }
     }
 
-    if (pkt->level == NGX_QUIC_ENCRYPTION_APPLICATION) {
+    if (pkt->level == NGX_QUIC_ENCRYPTION_APPLICATION
+        && ngx_quic_keys_available(qc->keys, NGX_QUIC_ENCRYPTION_EARLY_DATA, 0))
+    {
         /*
          * RFC 9001, 4.9.3.  Discarding 0-RTT Keys
          *