diff --git a/library/rsa.c b/library/rsa.c
index 41a437ba3f..93b47d52ed 100644
--- a/library/rsa.c
+++ b/library/rsa.c
@@ -1101,7 +1101,6 @@ int mbedtls_rsa_gen_key(mbedtls_rsa_context *ctx,
          * if it exists (FIPS 186-4 §B.3.1 criterion 2(a)) */
         ret = mbedtls_rsa_deduce_private_exponent(&ctx->P, &ctx->Q, &ctx->E, &ctx->D);
         if (ret == MBEDTLS_ERR_MPI_NOT_ACCEPTABLE) {
-            mbedtls_mpi_lset(&ctx->D, 0); /* needed for the next call */
             continue;
         }
         if (ret != 0) {
diff --git a/library/rsa_alt_helpers.c b/library/rsa_alt_helpers.c
index 50a5c4e0d7..8a09f93a3e 100644
--- a/library/rsa_alt_helpers.c
+++ b/library/rsa_alt_helpers.c
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ int mbedtls_rsa_deduce_private_exponent(mbedtls_mpi const *P,
     int ret = 0;
     mbedtls_mpi K, L;
 
-    if (D == NULL || mbedtls_mpi_cmp_int(D, 0) != 0) {
+    if (D == NULL) {
         return MBEDTLS_ERR_MPI_BAD_INPUT_DATA;
     }