diff --git a/src/key_io.cpp b/src/key_io.cpp
--- a/src/key_io.cpp
+++ b/src/key_io.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,9 @@
                     data.begin() + privkey_prefix.size() + 32, compressed);
         }
     }
-    memory_cleanse(data.data(), data.size());
+    if (!data.empty()) {
+        memory_cleanse(data.data(), data.size());
+    }
     return key;
 }