diff --git a/library/pkwrite.c b/library/pkwrite.c
index 438816078..c2c562348 100644
--- a/library/pkwrite.c
+++ b/library/pkwrite.c
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@
 #include "mbedtls/rsa.h"
 #endif
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_C)
+#include "mbedtls/bignum.h"
 #include "mbedtls/ecp.h"
+#include "mbedtls/platform_util.h"
 #endif
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_ECDSA_C)
 #include "mbedtls/ecdsa.h"
@@ -154,6 +156,26 @@ static int pk_write_ec_param( unsigned char **p, unsigned char *start,
 
     return( (int) len );
 }
+
+/*
+ * privateKey  OCTET STRING -- always of length ceil(log2(n)/8)
+ */
+static int pk_write_ec_private( unsigned char **p, unsigned char *start,
+                                mbedtls_ecp_keypair *ec )
+{
+    int ret;
+    size_t byte_length = ( ec->grp.pbits + 7 ) / 8;
+    unsigned char tmp[MBEDTLS_ECP_MAX_BYTES];
+
+    ret = mbedtls_mpi_write_binary( &ec->d, tmp, byte_length );
+    if( ret != 0 )
+        goto exit;
+    ret = mbedtls_asn1_write_octet_string( p, start, tmp, byte_length );
+
+exit:
+    mbedtls_platform_zeroize( tmp, byte_length );
+    return( ret );
+}
 #endif /* MBEDTLS_ECP_C */
 
 int mbedtls_pk_write_pubkey( unsigned char **p, unsigned char *start,
@@ -424,9 +446,8 @@ int mbedtls_pk_write_key_der( mbedtls_pk_context *key, unsigned char *buf, size_
                             MBEDTLS_ASN1_CONTEXT_SPECIFIC | MBEDTLS_ASN1_CONSTRUCTED | 0 ) );
         len += par_len;
 
-        /* privateKey: write as MPI then fix tag */
-        MBEDTLS_ASN1_CHK_ADD( len, mbedtls_asn1_write_mpi( &c, buf, &ec->d ) );
-        *c = MBEDTLS_ASN1_OCTET_STRING;
+        /* privateKey */
+        MBEDTLS_ASN1_CHK_ADD( len, pk_write_ec_private( &c, buf, ec ) );
 
         /* version */
         MBEDTLS_ASN1_CHK_ADD( len, mbedtls_asn1_write_int( &c, buf, 1 ) );
diff --git a/tests/data_files/ec_256_long_prv.pem b/tests/data_files/ec_256_long_prv.pem
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5141e30b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data_files/ec_256_long_prv.pem
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+-----BEGIN EC PRIVATE KEY-----
+MHcCAQEEIIcex4mqXsQamUKTVf8vXmTAJrQvGjh5mXG8p9+OR4xAoAoGCCqGSM49
+AwEHoUQDQgAEqJ2HQjPpc6fDwE/vSa6U35USXawkTo98y4U6NsAl+rOGuqMPEFXf
+P1Srm/Jrzwa/RuppRL5kgyAsGJTUmwZEzQ==
+-----END EC PRIVATE KEY-----
diff --git a/tests/data_files/ec_521_short_prv.pem b/tests/data_files/ec_521_short_prv.pem
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..427b7ad47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data_files/ec_521_short_prv.pem
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+-----BEGIN EC PRIVATE KEY-----
+MIHcAgEBBEIAOXdk7W+Hf5L7Hc9fKe44wmpaRNs5ERFTkv5CrlXv/Bu3y28M673q
+vBNo7a/UE/6NNQHu2pQODEYFpMg6R34b5SigBwYFK4EEACOhgYkDgYYABAFUMHXV
+KPA4vkMgq+pFgDoH96XoM517gF2GJFV6h2gLhykzIHL/otAyEpAStw7MBvbU0V21
+ixB+hjqzO7Snxaj9mwB8g87OKxm5eGfsqvJNPdJ0RZ/EKy06Ukg6KThlhQeyrtIk
+g5PTCrPnNszlffAy6/jCOe3Moi59g15H13sSzwfX6g==
+-----END EC PRIVATE KEY-----
diff --git a/tests/suites/test_suite_pkwrite.data b/tests/suites/test_suite_pkwrite.data
index c8ff1773c..e0101ccdf 100644
--- a/tests/suites/test_suite_pkwrite.data
+++ b/tests/suites/test_suite_pkwrite.data
@@ -30,10 +30,18 @@ Private key write check EC 192 bits
 depends_on:MBEDTLS_ECP_C:MBEDTLS_BASE64_C:MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP192R1_ENABLED
 pk_write_key_check:"data_files/ec_prv.sec1.pem"
 
+Private key write check EC 256 bits (top bit set)
+depends_on:MBEDTLS_ECP_C:MBEDTLS_BASE64_C:MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP256R1_ENABLED
+pk_write_key_check:"data_files/ec_256_long_prv.pem"
+
 Private key write check EC 521 bits
 depends_on:MBEDTLS_ECP_C:MBEDTLS_BASE64_C:MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP521R1_ENABLED
 pk_write_key_check:"data_files/ec_521_prv.pem"
 
+Private key write check EC 521 bits (top byte is 0)
+depends_on:MBEDTLS_ECP_C:MBEDTLS_BASE64_C:MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_SECP521R1_ENABLED
+pk_write_key_check:"data_files/ec_521_short_prv.pem"
+
 Private key write check EC Brainpool 512 bits
 depends_on:MBEDTLS_ECP_C:MBEDTLS_BASE64_C:MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_BP512R1_ENABLED
 pk_write_key_check:"data_files/ec_bp512_prv.pem"