diff --git a/library/ssl_cli.c b/library/ssl_cli.c
index 97202d8d6..aa2f76b95 100644
--- a/library/ssl_cli.c
+++ b/library/ssl_cli.c
@@ -2725,7 +2725,7 @@ static int ssl_parse_certificate_request( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
      * therefore the buffer length at this point must be greater than that
      * regardless of the actual code path.
      */
-    if( ssl->in_hslen <= mbedtls_ssl_hs_hdr_len( ssl ) + 3 + n )
+    if( ssl->in_hslen <= mbedtls_ssl_hs_hdr_len( ssl ) + 2 + n )
     {
         MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "bad certificate request message" ) );
         mbedtls_ssl_send_alert_message( ssl, MBEDTLS_SSL_ALERT_LEVEL_FATAL,