Is it safe to use EVP_PKEY returned from engine after freeing engine?

[krwq]

For example

ENGINE* engine = ENGINE_by_id("tpm2tss");
EVP_PKEY* ret = NULL;

if (engine != NULL)
{
    if (ENGINE_init(engine))
    {
       ret = ENGINE_load_private_key(engine, "0x81000007", NULL, NULL)
       ENGINE_finish(engine);
    }

    ENGINE_free(engine);
}

// Is using `ret` here safe?

I'm trying to write a function which ideally takes engine name and key name and returns EVP_PKEY*. Does EVP_PKEY keep hold of lifetime of the ENGINE so that this will work correctly?

[t8m]

Yes, this is correct. You can use the returned pkey after these calls.