--- openssl-0.9.8a/apps/ca.c
+++ openssl-0.9.8a/apps/ca.c
@@ -1515,7 +1515,8 @@
 	if (free_key && key)
 		OPENSSL_free(key);
 	BN_free(serial);
-	free_index(db);
+	if (db)
+		free_index(db);
 	EVP_PKEY_free(pkey);
 	if (x509) X509_free(x509);
 	X509_CRL_free(crl);