diff --git a/src/support/cleanse.h b/src/support/cleanse.h
--- a/src/support/cleanse.h
+++ b/src/support/cleanse.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include <cstdlib>
 
+// Attempt to overwrite data in the specified memory span.
 void memory_cleanse(void *ptr, size_t len);
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_SUPPORT_CLEANSE_H
diff --git a/src/wallet/db.h b/src/wallet/db.h
--- a/src/wallet/db.h
+++ b/src/wallet/db.h
@@ -200,26 +200,26 @@
         Dbt datValue;
         datValue.set_flags(DB_DBT_MALLOC);
         int ret = pdb->get(activeTxn, &datKey, &datValue, 0);
-        memset(datKey.get_data(), 0, datKey.get_size());
-        if (datValue.get_data() == nullptr) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        // Unserialize value
-        try {
-            CDataStream ssValue((char *)datValue.get_data(),
-                                (char *)datValue.get_data() +
-                                    datValue.get_size(),
-                                SER_DISK, CLIENT_VERSION);
-            ssValue >> value;
-        } catch (const std::exception &) {
-            return false;
+        memory_cleanse(datKey.get_data(), datKey.get_size());
+        bool success = false;
+        if (datValue.get_data() != nullptr) {
+            // Unserialize value
+            try {
+                CDataStream ssValue((char *)datValue.get_data(),
+                                    (char *)datValue.get_data() +
+                                        datValue.get_size(),
+                                    SER_DISK, CLIENT_VERSION);
+                ssValue >> value;
+                success = true;
+            } catch (const std::exception &) {
+                // In this case success remains 'false'
+            }
+
+            // Clear and free memory
+            memory_cleanse(datValue.get_data(), datValue.get_size());
+            free(datValue.get_data());
         }
-
-        // Clear and free memory
-        memset(datValue.get_data(), 0, datValue.get_size());
-        free(datValue.get_data());
-        return (ret == 0);
+        return ret == 0 && success;
     }
 
     template <typename K, typename T>
@@ -248,8 +248,8 @@
                            (fOverwrite ? 0 : DB_NOOVERWRITE));
 
         // Clear memory in case it was a private key
-        memset(datKey.get_data(), 0, datKey.get_size());
-        memset(datValue.get_data(), 0, datValue.get_size());
+        memory_cleanse(datKey.get_data(), datKey.get_size());
+        memory_cleanse(datValue.get_data(), datValue.get_size());
         return (ret == 0);
     }
 
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@
         int ret = pdb->del(activeTxn, &datKey, 0);
 
         // Clear memory
-        memset(datKey.get_data(), 0, datKey.get_size());
+        memory_cleanse(datKey.get_data(), datKey.get_size());
         return (ret == 0 || ret == DB_NOTFOUND);
     }
 
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
         int ret = pdb->exists(activeTxn, &datKey, 0);
 
         // Clear memory
-        memset(datKey.get_data(), 0, datKey.get_size());
+        memory_cleanse(datKey.get_data(), datKey.get_size());
         return (ret == 0);
     }
 
@@ -336,8 +336,8 @@
         ssValue.write((char *)datValue.get_data(), datValue.get_size());
 
         // Clear and free memory
-        memset(datKey.get_data(), 0, datKey.get_size());
-        memset(datValue.get_data(), 0, datValue.get_size());
+        memory_cleanse(datKey.get_data(), datKey.get_size());
+        memory_cleanse(datValue.get_data(), datValue.get_size());
         free(datKey.get_data());
         free(datValue.get_data());
         return 0;