diff --git a/crypto/evp/p_ec_asn1.c b/crypto/evp/p_ec_asn1.c
index c5828d93..0ad8f383 100644
--- a/crypto/evp/p_ec_asn1.c
+++ b/crypto/evp/p_ec_asn1.c
@@ -206,13 +206,7 @@ static int ec_missing_parameters(const EVP_PKEY *pkey) {
 }
 
 static int ec_copy_parameters(EVP_PKEY *to, const EVP_PKEY *from) {
-  EC_GROUP *group = EC_GROUP_dup(EC_KEY_get0_group(from->pkey.ec));
-  if (group == NULL ||
-      EC_KEY_set_group(to->pkey.ec, group) == 0) {
-    return 0;
-  }
-  EC_GROUP_free(group);
-  return 1;
+  return EC_KEY_set_group(to->pkey.ec, EC_KEY_get0_group(from->pkey.ec));
 }
 
 static int ec_cmp_parameters(const EVP_PKEY *a, const EVP_PKEY *b) {
diff --git a/crypto/fipsmodule/ec/ec.c b/crypto/fipsmodule/ec/ec.c
index b559b541..7b5031f7 100644
--- a/crypto/fipsmodule/ec/ec.c
+++ b/crypto/fipsmodule/ec/ec.c
@@ -623,25 +623,18 @@ unsigned EC_GROUP_get_degree(const EC_GROUP *group) {
 }
 
 EC_POINT *EC_POINT_new(const EC_GROUP *group) {
-  EC_POINT *ret;
-
   if (group == NULL) {
     OPENSSL_PUT_ERROR(EC, ERR_R_PASSED_NULL_PARAMETER);
     return NULL;
   }
 
-  ret = OPENSSL_malloc(sizeof *ret);
+  EC_POINT *ret = OPENSSL_malloc(sizeof *ret);
   if (ret == NULL) {
     OPENSSL_PUT_ERROR(EC, ERR_R_MALLOC_FAILURE);
     return NULL;
   }
 
   ret->group = EC_GROUP_dup(group);
-  if (ret->group == NULL) {
-    OPENSSL_free(ret);
-    return NULL;
-  }
-
   ec_GFp_simple_point_init(ret);
   return ret;
 }
diff --git a/include/openssl/ec.h b/include/openssl/ec.h
index 53f22fd0..312a387c 100644
--- a/include/openssl/ec.h
+++ b/include/openssl/ec.h
@@ -114,11 +114,10 @@ typedef enum {
 // more modern primitives.
 OPENSSL_EXPORT EC_GROUP *EC_GROUP_new_by_curve_name(int nid);
 
-// EC_GROUP_free frees |group| and the data that it points to.
+// EC_GROUP_free releases a reference to |group|.
 OPENSSL_EXPORT void EC_GROUP_free(EC_GROUP *group);
 
-// EC_GROUP_dup returns a fresh |EC_GROUP| which is equal to |a| or NULL on
-// error.
+// EC_GROUP_dup takes a reference to |a| and returns it.
 OPENSSL_EXPORT EC_GROUP *EC_GROUP_dup(const EC_GROUP *a);
 
 // EC_GROUP_cmp returns zero if |a| and |b| are the same group and non-zero