diff --git a/include/libssh/libssh.h b/include/libssh/libssh.h
index e6f08472..577ddb71 100644
--- a/include/libssh/libssh.h
+++ b/include/libssh/libssh.h
@@ -425,8 +425,10 @@ LIBSSH_API enum ssh_keytypes_e ssh_key_type_from_name(const char *name);
 LIBSSH_API int ssh_key_is_public(ssh_key k);
 LIBSSH_API int ssh_key_is_private(ssh_key k);
 
-LIBSSH_API int ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(ssh_key key, ssh_session session,
-                                const char *b64_key, const char *passphrase);
+LIBSSH_API int ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(ssh_session session,
+                                             const char *b64_key,
+                                             const char *passphrase,
+                                             ssh_key *pkey);
 LIBSSH_API int ssh_userauth_pki_pubkey(ssh_session session, const char *username,
                             ssh_string publickey, ssh_key privatekey);
 LIBSSH_API void ssh_print_hexa(const char *descr, const unsigned char *what, size_t len);
diff --git a/include/libssh/pki.h b/include/libssh/pki.h
index 463f614f..32e084f4 100644
--- a/include/libssh/pki.h
+++ b/include/libssh/pki.h
@@ -59,4 +59,7 @@ ssh_public_key ssh_pki_convert_key_to_publickey(ssh_key key);
 
 enum ssh_keytypes_e pki_privatekey_type_from_string(const char *privkey);
 
+ssh_key pki_private_key_from_base64(ssh_session session,
+                                    const char *b64_key,
+                                    const char *passphrase);
 #endif /* PKI_H_ */
diff --git a/src/legacy.c b/src/legacy.c
index 76bcf503..678b0658 100644
--- a/src/legacy.c
+++ b/src/legacy.c
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 #include <libssh/priv.h>
 #include <libssh/server.h>
 #include <libssh/buffer.h>
+#include <libssh/pki.h>
+#include <libssh/keys.h>
 
 void buffer_free(ssh_buffer buffer){
   ssh_buffer_free(buffer);
@@ -234,6 +236,33 @@ char *string_to_char(ssh_string str){
   return ssh_string_to_char(str);
 }
 
+ssh_private_key privatekey_from_base64(ssh_session session,
+                                       const char *b64_pkey,
+                                       int type,
+                                       const char *passphrase) {
+    ssh_private_key privkey;
+    ssh_key key;
+
+    (void) type; /* unused */
+
+    key = pki_private_key_from_base64(session, b64_pkey, passphrase);
+    if (key == NULL) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    privkey = malloc(sizeof(struct ssh_private_key_struct));
+    if (privkey == NULL) {
+        ssh_key_free(key);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    privkey->type = key->type;
+    privkey->dsa_priv = key->dsa;
+    privkey->rsa_priv = key->rsa;
+
+    return privkey;
+}
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * SERVER SUPPORT
  ****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/pki.c b/src/pki.c
index c3947ae5..1966ca9d 100644
--- a/src/pki.c
+++ b/src/pki.c
@@ -247,32 +247,30 @@ ssh_public_key ssh_pki_convert_key_to_publickey(ssh_key key) {
  *
  * @return  SSH_ERROR in case of error, SSH_OK otherwise
  */
-int ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(ssh_key key, ssh_session session,
-                    const char *b64_key, const char *passphrase) {
-    ssh_private_key priv;
+int ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(ssh_session session,
+                                  const char *b64_key,
+                                  const char *passphrase,
+                                  ssh_key *pkey) {
+    ssh_key key;
 
-    if(key == NULL || session == NULL) {
+    if (pkey == NULL || session == NULL) {
         return SSH_ERROR;
     }
 
-    if(b64_key == NULL || !*b64_key) {
+    if (b64_key == NULL || !*b64_key) {
         return SSH_ERROR;
     }
 
-    priv = privatekey_from_base64(session, b64_key, 0, passphrase);
-    if(priv == NULL) {
+    ssh_log(session, SSH_LOG_RARE, "Trying to decode privkey passphrase=%s",
+            passphrase ? "true" : "false");
+
+    key = pki_private_key_from_base64(session, b64_key, passphrase);
+    if (key == NULL) {
         return SSH_ERROR;
     }
 
-    ssh_key_clean(key);
+    *pkey = key;
 
-    key->dsa = priv->dsa_priv;
-    key->rsa = priv->rsa_priv;
-    key->type = priv->type;
-    key->flags = SSH_KEY_FLAG_PRIVATE | SSH_KEY_FLAG_PUBLIC;
-    key->type_c = ssh_type_to_char(key->type);
-
-    SAFE_FREE(priv);
     return SSH_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pki_crypto.c b/src/pki_crypto.c
index c6b92244..db29a2eb 100644
--- a/src/pki_crypto.c
+++ b/src/pki_crypto.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "libssh/libssh.h"
 #include "libssh/session.h"
 #include "libssh/callbacks.h"
+#include "libssh/pki.h"
 
 static int pem_get_password(char *buf, int size, int rwflag, void *userdata) {
     ssh_session session = userdata;
@@ -66,4 +67,100 @@ static int pem_get_password(char *buf, int size, int rwflag, void *userdata) {
     return 0;
 }
 
+ssh_key pki_private_key_from_base64(ssh_session session,
+                                    const char *b64_key,
+                                    const char *passphrase) {
+    BIO *mem = NULL;
+    DSA *dsa = NULL;
+    RSA *rsa = NULL;
+    ssh_key key;
+    enum ssh_keytypes_e type;
+
+    /* needed for openssl initialization */
+    if (ssh_init() < 0) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    type = pki_privatekey_type_from_string(b64_key);
+    if (type == SSH_KEYTYPE_UNKNOWN) {
+        ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Unknown or invalid private key.");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    mem = BIO_new_mem_buf((void*)b64_key, -1);
+
+    switch (type) {
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_DSS:
+            if (passphrase == NULL) {
+                if (session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
+                    dsa = PEM_read_bio_DSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, pem_get_password, session);
+                } else {
+                    /* openssl uses its own callback to get the passphrase here */
+                    dsa = PEM_read_bio_DSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+                }
+            } else {
+                dsa = PEM_read_bio_DSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, (void *) passphrase);
+            }
+
+            BIO_free(mem);
+
+            if (dsa == NULL) {
+                ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL,
+                              "Parsing private key: %s",
+                              ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL));
+                return NULL;
+            }
+
+            break;
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_RSA:
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_RSA1:
+            if (passphrase == NULL) {
+                if (session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
+                    rsa = PEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, pem_get_password, session);
+                } else {
+                    /* openssl uses its own callback to get the passphrase here */
+                    rsa = PEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+                }
+            } else {
+                rsa = PEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, (void *) passphrase);
+            }
+
+            BIO_free(mem);
+
+            if (rsa == NULL) {
+                ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL,
+                              "Parsing private key: %s",
+                              ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(),NULL));
+                return NULL;
+            }
+
+            break;
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_ECDSA:
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_UNKNOWN:
+            BIO_free(mem);
+            ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL,
+                          "Unkown or invalid private key type %d", type);
+            return NULL;
+    }
+
+    key = ssh_key_new();
+    if (key == NULL) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    key->type = type;
+    key->type_c = ssh_key_type_to_char(type);
+    key->flags = SSH_KEY_FLAG_PRIVATE | SSH_KEY_FLAG_PUBLIC;
+    key->dsa = dsa;
+    key->rsa = rsa;
+
+    return key;
+fail:
+    ssh_key_free(key);
+    DSA_free(dsa);
+    RSA_free(rsa);
+
+    return NULL;
+}
+
 #endif /* _PKI_CRYPTO_H */
diff --git a/src/pki_gcrypt.c b/src/pki_gcrypt.c
index 480478a7..f160a805 100644
--- a/src/pki_gcrypt.c
+++ b/src/pki_gcrypt.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 #include "libssh/wrapper.h"
 #include "libssh/misc.h"
 #include "libssh/keys.h"
+#include "libssh/pki.h"
 
 /*todo: remove this include */
 #include "libssh/string.h"
@@ -861,42 +862,104 @@ error:
 
   return rc;
 }
-#endif /* HAVE_LIBGCRYPT */
 
-#ifdef HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
-static int pem_get_password(char *buf, int size, int rwflag, void *userdata) {
-  ssh_session session = userdata;
+ssh_key pki_private_key_from_base64(ssh_session session,
+                                    const char *b64_key,
+                                    const char *passphrase) {
+    ssh_auth_callback auth_cb = NULL;
+    void *auth_ud = NULL;
 
-  /* unused flag */
-  (void) rwflag;
-  if(buf==NULL)
-    return 0;
-  memset(buf,'\0',size);
-  ssh_log(session, SSH_LOG_RARE,
-      "Trying to call external authentication function");
+    gcry_sexp_t dsa = NULL;
+    gcry_sexp_t rsa = NULL;
+    ssh_key key = NULL;
+    enum ssh_keytypes_e type;
+    int valid;
 
-  if (session && session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
-    if (session->common.callbacks->auth_function("Passphrase for private key:", buf, size, 0, 0,
-        session->common.callbacks->userdata) < 0) {
-      return 0;
+    /* needed for gcrypt initialization */
+    if (ssh_init() < 0) {
+        return NULL;
     }
 
-    return strlen(buf);
-  }
+    type = pki_privatekey_type_from_string(b64_key);
+    if (type == SSH_KEYTYPE_UNKNOWN) {
+        ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Unknown or invalid private key.");
+        return NULL;
+    }
 
-  return 0;
-}
-#endif /* HAVE_LIBCRYPTO */
+    switch (type) {
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_DSS:
+            if (passphrase == NULL) {
+                if (session->common.callbacks &&
+                    session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
+                    auth_cb = session->common.callbacks->auth_function;
+                    auth_ud = session->common.callbacks->userdata;
 
-static int privatekey_type_from_string(const char *pkey) {
-  if (strncmp(pkey, DSA_HEADER_BEGIN, strlen(DSA_HEADER_BEGIN)) == 0) {
-    return SSH_KEYTYPE_DSS;
-  }
-  if (strncmp(pkey, RSA_HEADER_BEGIN, strlen(RSA_HEADER_BEGIN)) == 0) {
-    return SSH_KEYTYPE_RSA;
-  }
-  return 0;
+                    valid = b64decode_dsa_privatekey(b64_key, &dsa, auth_cb,
+                            auth_ud, "Passphrase for private key:");
+                } else {
+                    valid = b64decode_dsa_privatekey(b64_key, &dsa, NULL, NULL,
+                            NULL);
+                }
+            } else {
+                valid = b64decode_dsa_privatekey(b64_key, &dsa, NULL, (void *)
+                        passphrase, NULL);
+            }
+
+            if (!valid) {
+                ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Parsing private key");
+                goto fail;
+            }
+            break;
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_RSA:
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_RSA1:
+            if (passphrase == NULL) {
+                if (session->common.callbacks &&
+                    session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
+                    auth_cb = session->common.callbacks->auth_function;
+                    auth_ud = session->common.callbacks->userdata;
+                    valid = b64decode_rsa_privatekey(b64_key, &rsa, auth_cb,
+                            auth_ud, "Passphrase for private key:");
+                } else {
+                    valid = b64decode_rsa_privatekey(b64_key, &rsa, NULL, NULL,
+                            NULL);
+                }
+            } else {
+                valid = b64decode_rsa_privatekey(b64_key, &rsa, NULL,
+                        (void *)passphrase, NULL);
+            }
+
+            if (!valid) {
+                ssh_set_error(session,SSH_FATAL, "Parsing private key");
+                goto fail;
+            }
+            break;
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_ECDSA:
+        case SSH_KEYTYPE_UNKNOWN:
+            ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL,
+                          "Unkown or invalid private key type %d", type);
+            return NULL;
+    }
+
+    key = ssh_key_new();
+    if (key == NULL) {
+        goto fail;
+    }
+
+    key->type = type;
+    key->type_c = ssh_key_type_to_char(type);
+    key->flags = SSH_KEY_FLAG_PRIVATE | SSH_KEY_FLAG_PUBLIC;
+    key->dsa = dsa;
+    key->rsa = rsa;
+
+    return key;
+fail:
+    ssh_key_free(key);
+    gcry_sexp_release(dsa);
+    gcry_sexp_release(rsa);
+
+    return NULL;
 }
+#endif /* HAVE_LIBGCRYPT */
 
 /**
  * @addtogroup libssh_auth
@@ -966,156 +1029,6 @@ ssh_private_key privatekey_from_file(ssh_session session, const char *filename,
   return privkey;
 }
 
-ssh_private_key privatekey_from_base64(ssh_session session, const char *b64_pkey,
-    int type, const char *passphrase) {
-  ssh_private_key privkey = NULL;
-#ifdef HAVE_LIBGCRYPT
-  ssh_auth_callback auth_cb = NULL;
-  void *auth_ud = NULL;
-
-  gcry_sexp_t dsa = NULL;
-  gcry_sexp_t rsa = NULL;
-  int valid;
-#elif defined HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
-  BIO *mem = NULL;
-  DSA *dsa = NULL;
-  RSA *rsa = NULL;
-#endif
-  /* TODO Implement to read both DSA and RSA at once. */
-
-  if(b64_pkey == NULL || !*b64_pkey) {
-      return NULL;
-  }
-
-  /* needed for openssl initialization */
-  if (ssh_init() < 0) {
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
-  ssh_log(session, SSH_LOG_RARE, "Trying to read privkey type=%s, passphase=%s, authcb=%s",
-      type ? type == SSH_KEYTYPE_DSS ? "ssh-dss" : "ssh-rsa": "unknown",
-      passphrase ? "true" : "false",
-      session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function ? "true" : "false");
-
-  if (type == 0) {
-    type = privatekey_type_from_string(b64_pkey);
-    if (type == 0) {
-      ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Invalid private key.");
-      return NULL;
-    }
-  }
-  switch (type) {
-    case SSH_KEYTYPE_DSS:
-#ifdef HAVE_LIBGCRYPT
-      if (passphrase == NULL) {
-        if (session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
-          auth_cb = session->common.callbacks->auth_function;
-          auth_ud = session->common.callbacks->userdata;
-
-          valid = b64decode_dsa_privatekey(b64_pkey, &dsa, auth_cb, auth_ud,
-              "Passphrase for private key:");
-        } else { /* authcb */
-          valid = b64decode_dsa_privatekey(b64_pkey, &dsa, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        } /* authcb */
-      } else { /* passphrase */
-        valid = b64decode_dsa_privatekey(b64_pkey, &dsa, NULL,
-            (void *) passphrase, NULL);
-      }
-
-      if (!valid) {
-        ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Parsing private key");
-        return NULL;
-      }
-#elif defined HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
-      mem = BIO_new_mem_buf((void*)b64_pkey, -1);
-      if (passphrase == NULL) {
-        if (session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
-          dsa = PEM_read_bio_DSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, pem_get_password, session);
-        } else { /* authcb */
-          /* openssl uses its own callback to get the passphrase here */
-          dsa = PEM_read_bio_DSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        } /* authcb */
-      } else { /* passphrase */
-        dsa = PEM_read_bio_DSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, (void *) passphrase);
-      }
-
-      BIO_free(mem);
-
-      if (dsa == NULL) {
-        ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL,
-            "Parsing private key: %s",
-            ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(), NULL));
-        return NULL;
-      }
-#endif
-      break;
-    case SSH_KEYTYPE_RSA:
-#ifdef HAVE_LIBGCRYPT
-      if (passphrase == NULL) {
-        if (session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
-          auth_cb = session->common.callbacks->auth_function;
-          auth_ud = session->common.callbacks->userdata;
-          valid = b64decode_rsa_privatekey(b64_pkey, &rsa, auth_cb, auth_ud,
-              "Passphrase for private key:");
-        } else { /* authcb */
-          valid = b64decode_rsa_privatekey(b64_pkey, &rsa, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        } /* authcb */
-      } else { /* passphrase */
-        valid = b64decode_rsa_privatekey(b64_pkey, &rsa, NULL,
-            (void *) passphrase, NULL);
-      }
-
-      if (!valid) {
-        ssh_set_error(session,SSH_FATAL, "Parsing private key");
-        return NULL;
-      }
-#elif defined HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
-      mem = BIO_new_mem_buf((void*)b64_pkey, -1);
-      if (passphrase == NULL) {
-        if (session->common.callbacks && session->common.callbacks->auth_function) {
-          rsa = PEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, pem_get_password, session);
-        } else { /* authcb */
-          /* openssl uses its own callback to get the passphrase here */
-          rsa = PEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-        } /* authcb */
-      } else { /* passphrase */
-        rsa = PEM_read_bio_RSAPrivateKey(mem, NULL, NULL, (void *) passphrase);
-      }
-
-      BIO_free(mem);
-
-      if (rsa == NULL) {
-        ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL,
-            "Parsing private key: %s",
-            ERR_error_string(ERR_get_error(),NULL));
-        return NULL;
-      }
-#endif
-      break;
-    default:
-      ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Invalid private key type %d", type);
-      return NULL;
-  } /* switch */
-
-  privkey = malloc(sizeof(struct ssh_private_key_struct));
-  if (privkey == NULL) {
-#ifdef HAVE_LIBGCRYPT
-    gcry_sexp_release(dsa);
-    gcry_sexp_release(rsa);
-#elif defined HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
-    DSA_free(dsa);
-    RSA_free(rsa);
-#endif
-    return NULL;
-  }
-  ZERO_STRUCTP(privkey);
-  privkey->type = type;
-  privkey->dsa_priv = dsa;
-  privkey->rsa_priv = rsa;
-
-  return privkey;
-}
-
 /**
  * @brief returns the type of a private key
  * @param[in] privatekey the private key handle
diff --git a/tests/unittests/torture_pki.c b/tests/unittests/torture_pki.c
index 760c1cec..8e1d07de 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/torture_pki.c
+++ b/tests/unittests/torture_pki.c
@@ -103,13 +103,7 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_RSA(void **state) {
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_RSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-    /* 
-    int ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(ssh_key key, ssh_session session,
-                    const char *b64_key, const char *passphrase)
-    */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == 0);
 
     free(key_str);
@@ -130,7 +124,7 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_NULL_key(void **state) {
     assert_true(key != NULL);
 
     /* test if it returns -1 if key is NULL */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(NULL, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, NULL);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 
     free(key_str);
@@ -141,18 +135,15 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_NULL_session(void **state) {
     ssh_session session = *state;
     int rc;
     char *key_str;
-    ssh_key key;
+    ssh_key key = NULL;
     const char *passphrase = LIBSSH_PASSPHRASE;
 
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_RSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-
     /* test if it returns -1 if session is NULL */
     (void)session;
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, NULL, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(NULL, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 
     free(key_str);
@@ -163,17 +154,14 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_NULL_str(void **state) {
     ssh_session session = *state;
     int rc;
     char *key_str;
-    ssh_key key;
+    ssh_key key = NULL;
     const char *passphrase = LIBSSH_PASSPHRASE;
 
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_RSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-
     /* test if it returns -1 if key_str is NULL */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, NULL, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, NULL, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 
     free(key_str);
@@ -190,13 +178,7 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_DSA(void **state) {
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_DSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-    /* 
-    int ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(ssh_key key, ssh_session session,
-                    const char *b64_key, const char *passphrase)
-    */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == 0);
 
     free(key_str);
@@ -207,26 +189,24 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_passphrase(void **state) {
     ssh_session session = *state;
     int rc;
     char *key_str;
-    ssh_key key;
+    ssh_key key = NULL;
     const char *passphrase = LIBSSH_PASSPHRASE;
 
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_RSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == 0);
+    ssh_key_free(key);
 
     /* test if it returns -1 if passphrase is wrong */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, "wrong passphrase !!");
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, "wrong passphrase !!", &key);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 
 #ifndef HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
     /* test if it returns -1 if passphrase is NULL */
     /* libcrypto asks for a passphrase, so skip this test */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, NULL);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, NULL, &key);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 #endif
 
@@ -236,22 +216,22 @@ static void torture_pki_import_privkey_base64_passphrase(void **state) {
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_DSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == 0);
+    ssh_key_free(key);
 
     /* test if it returns -1 if passphrase is wrong */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, "wrong passphrase !!");
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, "wrong passphrase !!", &key);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 
 #ifndef HAVE_LIBCRYPTO
     /* test if it returns -1 if passphrase is NULL */
     /* libcrypto asks for a passphrase, so skip this test */
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, NULL);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, NULL, &key);
     assert_true(rc == -1);
 #endif
 
     free(key_str);
-    ssh_key_free(key);
 }
 
 static void torture_pki_pki_publickey_from_privatekey_RSA(void **state) {
@@ -265,10 +245,7 @@ static void torture_pki_pki_publickey_from_privatekey_RSA(void **state) {
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_RSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == 0);
 
     pubkey = ssh_pki_publickey_from_privatekey(key);
@@ -290,10 +267,7 @@ static void torture_pki_pki_publickey_from_privatekey_DSA(void **state) {
     key_str = read_file(LIBSSH_DSA_TESTKEY);
     assert_true(key_str != NULL);
 
-    key = ssh_key_new();
-    assert_true(key != NULL);
-
-    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(key, session, key_str, passphrase);
+    rc = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(session, key_str, passphrase, &key);
     assert_true(rc == 0);
 
     pubkey = ssh_pki_publickey_from_privatekey(key);