diff --git a/src/ecmult_gen_impl.h b/src/ecmult_gen_impl.h
index 2c8a503acc..4f5ea9f3c0 100644
--- a/src/ecmult_gen_impl.h
+++ b/src/ecmult_gen_impl.h
@@ -88,31 +88,31 @@ static void secp256k1_ecmult_gen_blind(secp256k1_ecmult_gen_context *ctx, const
     unsigned char nonce32[32];
     secp256k1_rfc6979_hmac_sha256 rng;
     int overflow;
-    unsigned char keydata[64] = {0};
+    unsigned char keydata[64];
     if (seed32 == NULL) {
         /* When seed is NULL, reset the initial point and blinding value. */
         secp256k1_gej_set_ge(&ctx->initial, &secp256k1_ge_const_g);
         secp256k1_gej_neg(&ctx->initial, &ctx->initial);
         secp256k1_scalar_set_int(&ctx->blind, 1);
+        return;
     }
     /* The prior blinding value (if not reset) is chained forward by including it in the hash. */
-    secp256k1_scalar_get_b32(nonce32, &ctx->blind);
+    secp256k1_scalar_get_b32(keydata, &ctx->blind);
     /** Using a CSPRNG allows a failure free interface, avoids needing large amounts of random data,
      *   and guards against weak or adversarial seeds.  This is a simpler and safer interface than
      *   asking the caller for blinding values directly and expecting them to retry on failure.
      */
-    memcpy(keydata, nonce32, 32);
-    if (seed32 != NULL) {
-        memcpy(keydata + 32, seed32, 32);
-    }
-    secp256k1_rfc6979_hmac_sha256_initialize(&rng, keydata, seed32 ? 64 : 32);
+    VERIFY_CHECK(seed32 != NULL);
+    memcpy(keydata + 32, seed32, 32);
+    secp256k1_rfc6979_hmac_sha256_initialize(&rng, keydata, 64);
     memset(keydata, 0, sizeof(keydata));
     /* Accept unobservably small non-uniformity. */
     secp256k1_rfc6979_hmac_sha256_generate(&rng, nonce32, 32);
     overflow = !secp256k1_fe_set_b32(&s, nonce32);
     overflow |= secp256k1_fe_is_zero(&s);
     secp256k1_fe_cmov(&s, &secp256k1_fe_one, overflow);
-    /* Randomize the projection to defend against multiplier sidechannels. */
+    /* Randomize the projection to defend against multiplier sidechannels.
+       Do this before our own call to secp256k1_ecmult_gen below. */
     secp256k1_gej_rescale(&ctx->initial, &s);
     secp256k1_fe_clear(&s);
     secp256k1_rfc6979_hmac_sha256_generate(&rng, nonce32, 32);
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ static void secp256k1_ecmult_gen_blind(secp256k1_ecmult_gen_context *ctx, const
     secp256k1_scalar_cmov(&b, &secp256k1_scalar_one, secp256k1_scalar_is_zero(&b));
     secp256k1_rfc6979_hmac_sha256_finalize(&rng);
     memset(nonce32, 0, 32);
+    /* The random projection in ctx->initial ensures that gb will have a random projection. */
     secp256k1_ecmult_gen(ctx, &gb, &b);
     secp256k1_scalar_negate(&b, &b);
     ctx->blind = b;