1 files changed, 9 insertions, 6 deletions
diff --git a/mpi/mpicoder.c b/mpi/mpicoder.c
index e0434c15f..559facd89 100644
--- a/mpi/mpicoder.c
+++ b/mpi/mpicoder.c
@@ -363,12 +363,15 @@ do_get_buffer( MPI a, unsigned *nbytes, int *sign, int force_secure )
       #endif
     }
 
-    /* this is sub-optimal but we need to do the shift oepration because
-     * the caller has to free the returned buffer */
-    for(p=buffer; !*p && *nbytes; p++, --*nbytes )
-	;
-    if( p != buffer )
-	memmove(buffer,p, *nbytes);
+    if (!mpi_is_protected (a))
+      {
+        /* this is sub-optimal but we need to do the shift operation
+         * because the caller has to free the returned buffer */
+        for(p=buffer; !*p && *nbytes; p++, --*nbytes )
+          ;
+        if( p != buffer )
+          memmove(buffer,p, *nbytes);
+      }
     return buffer;
 }