diff --git a/src/crypto/elliptic_secp256k1.cpp b/src/crypto/elliptic_secp256k1.cpp
index e71213c..d270b6f 100644
--- a/src/crypto/elliptic_secp256k1.cpp
+++ b/src/crypto/elliptic_secp256k1.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,10 @@ namespace fc { namespace ecc {
 
     fc::sha256 private_key::get_secret()const
     {
-        FC_ASSERT( my->_key != nullptr );
+        if( !my->_key )
+        {
+            return fc::sha256();
+        }
         return *my->_key;
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/ecc_test.cpp b/tests/ecc_test.cpp
index 5492d61..df809ee 100644
--- a/tests/ecc_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/ecc_test.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
         interop_file(argv[2]);
     }
 
+    fc::ecc::private_key nullkey;
+
    for( uint32_t i = 0; i < 3000; ++ i )
    {
    try {
@@ -76,6 +78,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
    std::string  pass(argv[1]);
    fc::sha256   h = fc::sha256::hash( pass.c_str(), pass.size() );
    fc::ecc::private_key priv = fc::ecc::private_key::generate_from_seed(h);
+   FC_ASSERT( nullkey != priv );
    interop_do(priv.get_secret());
    fc::ecc::public_key  pub  = priv.get_public_key();
    interop_do(pub.serialize());