diff --git a/library/ecp_curves.c b/library/ecp_curves.c
index a4fa663a56..4203dd1fab 100644
--- a/library/ecp_curves.c
+++ b/library/ecp_curves.c
@@ -5657,6 +5657,7 @@ static inline int ecp_mod_koblitz(mbedtls_mpi_uint *X,
     size_t shift   = bits % biL;
     size_t adjust  = (shift + biL - 1) / biL;
     size_t P_limbs = bits / biL + adjust;
+    mbedtls_mpi_uint mask = 0;
 
     mbedtls_mpi_uint *A1 = mbedtls_calloc(P_limbs, ciL);
     if (A1 == NULL) {
@@ -5672,7 +5673,6 @@ static inline int ecp_mod_koblitz(mbedtls_mpi_uint *X,
         goto cleanup;
     }
 
-    mbedtls_mpi_uint mask = 0;
     if (adjust != 0) {
         mask  = ((mbedtls_mpi_uint) 1 << shift) - 1;
     }