diff --git a/src/coap_openssl.c b/src/coap_openssl.c
index 379c918c18..b0ace79eb5 100644
--- a/src/coap_openssl.c
+++ b/src/coap_openssl.c
@@ -289,7 +289,6 @@ coap_dtls_shutdown(void) {
   }
   ERR_free_strings();
   coap_dtls_set_log_level(COAP_LOG_EMERG);
-  OPENSSL_cleanup();
 }
 
 void *