diff --git a/lib/vtls/openssl.c b/lib/vtls/openssl.c
index d0f525523..4659c7997 100644
--- a/lib/vtls/openssl.c
+++ b/lib/vtls/openssl.c
@@ -3383,12 +3383,13 @@ static bool Curl_ossl_data_pending(const struct connectdata *conn,
 {
   const struct ssl_connect_data *connssl = &conn->ssl[connindex];
   const struct ssl_connect_data *proxyssl = &conn->proxy_ssl[connindex];
-  if(BACKEND->handle)
-    /* SSL is in use */
-    return (0 != SSL_pending(BACKEND->handle) ||
-           (proxyssl->backend->handle &&
-            0 != SSL_pending(proxyssl->backend->handle))) ?
-           TRUE : FALSE;
+
+  if(connssl->backend->handle && SSL_pending(connssl->backend->handle))
+    return TRUE;
+
+  if(proxyssl->backend->handle && SSL_pending(proxyssl->backend->handle))
+    return TRUE;
+
   return FALSE;
 }