diff --git a/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c b/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
index 13a0122b8..691d0ffc8 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/src/ecc.c
@@ -6931,7 +6931,8 @@ int wc_ecc_import_point_der_ex(byte* in, word32 inLen, const int curve_idx,
                     (ECC_CURVE_FIELD_PRIME | ECC_CURVE_FIELD_AF |
                         ECC_CURVE_FIELD_BF));
 
-        #ifdef WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CURVES
+        #if defined(WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CURVES) && \
+            defined(WOLFSSL_VALIDATE_ECC_IMPORT)
             /* validate prime is prime for custom curves */
             if (err == MP_OKAY && curve_idx == ECC_CUSTOM_IDX) {
                 int isPrime = MP_NO;
@@ -7838,7 +7839,8 @@ int wc_ecc_import_x963_ex(const byte* in, word32 inLen, ecc_key* key,
                 (ECC_CURVE_FIELD_PRIME | ECC_CURVE_FIELD_AF |
                  ECC_CURVE_FIELD_BF));
 
-    #ifdef WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CURVES
+    #if defined(WOLFSSL_CUSTOM_CURVES) && \
+        defined(WOLFSSL_VALIDATE_ECC_IMPORT)
         /* validate prime is prime for custom curves */
         if (err == MP_OKAY && key->idx == ECC_CUSTOM_IDX) {
             int isPrime = MP_NO;