diff --git a/dnstap/unbound-dnstap-socket.c b/dnstap/unbound-dnstap-socket.c
index 3c5bcbcda..cbb04a1c2 100644
--- a/dnstap/unbound-dnstap-socket.c
+++ b/dnstap/unbound-dnstap-socket.c
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ static struct tap_socket* tap_socket_new_tlsaccept(char* ip,
 	s->ev_cb = ev_cb;
 	s->data = data;
 	s->sslctx = listen_sslctx_create(server_key, server_cert, verifypem);
+	if(!s->sslctx) {
+		log_err("could not create ssl context");
+		free(s->ip);
+		free(s);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 	return s;
 }