diff --git a/test/cipherlist_test.c b/test/cipherlist_test.c
index 380f0727fc..9739cb58c4 100644
--- a/test/cipherlist_test.c
+++ b/test/cipherlist_test.c
@@ -205,8 +205,10 @@ static int test_default_cipherlist_explicit(void)
 {
     SETUP_CIPHERLIST_TEST_FIXTURE();
     if (!TEST_true(SSL_CTX_set_cipher_list(fixture->server, "DEFAULT"))
-            || !TEST_true(SSL_CTX_set_cipher_list(fixture->client, "DEFAULT")))
+            || !TEST_true(SSL_CTX_set_cipher_list(fixture->client, "DEFAULT"))) {
         tear_down(fixture);
+        fixture = NULL;
+    }
     EXECUTE_CIPHERLIST_TEST();
     return result;
 }