diff --git a/test/ectest.c b/test/ectest.c
index 8e62cf01e6e6b5..c0337e1c9531a2 100644
--- a/test/ectest.c
+++ b/test/ectest.c
@@ -2724,6 +2724,13 @@ static int custom_params_test(int id)
     if (!TEST_ptr(ctx = BN_CTX_new()))
         return 0;
 
+    BN_CTX_start(ctx);
+    if (!TEST_ptr(p = BN_CTX_get(ctx))
+            || !TEST_ptr(a = BN_CTX_get(ctx))
+            || !TEST_ptr(b = BN_CTX_get(ctx))
+            || !TEST_ptr(k = BN_CTX_get(ctx)))
+        goto err;
+
     if (!TEST_ptr(group = EC_GROUP_new_by_curve_name(nid)))
         goto err;
 
@@ -2735,13 +2742,6 @@ static int custom_params_test(int id)
     }
 #endif
 
-    BN_CTX_start(ctx);
-    if (!TEST_ptr(p = BN_CTX_get(ctx))
-            || !TEST_ptr(a = BN_CTX_get(ctx))
-            || !TEST_ptr(b = BN_CTX_get(ctx))
-            || !TEST_ptr(k = BN_CTX_get(ctx)))
-        goto err;
-
     /* expected byte length of encoded points */
     bsize = (EC_GROUP_get_degree(group) + 7) / 8;
     bsize = 1 + 2 * bsize; /* UNCOMPRESSED_POINT format */