diff --git a/ext/openssl/openssl.c b/ext/openssl/openssl.c
index 17b875e43498..a4de2583d1a5 100644
--- a/ext/openssl/openssl.c
+++ b/ext/openssl/openssl.c
@@ -4261,6 +4261,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(openssl_seal)
 
 	iv_len = EVP_CIPHER_iv_length(cipher);
 	if (!iv && iv_len > 0) {
+		php_openssl_release_evp_cipher(cipher);
 		zend_argument_value_error(6, "cannot be null for the chosen cipher algorithm");
 		RETURN_THROWS();
 	}
@@ -4347,6 +4348,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(openssl_seal)
 	efree(eks);
 	efree(eksl);
 	efree(pkeys);
+	php_openssl_release_evp_cipher(cipher);
 }
 /* }}} */
 
@@ -4423,6 +4425,7 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(openssl_open)
 	EVP_CIPHER_CTX_free(ctx);
 out_pkey:
 	EVP_PKEY_free(pkey);
+	php_openssl_release_evp_cipher(cipher);
 }
 /* }}} */