diff --git a/lib/vssh/libssh2.c b/lib/vssh/libssh2.c
index 37040b4b77..21fe1193c2 100644
--- a/lib/vssh/libssh2.c
+++ b/lib/vssh/libssh2.c
@@ -1178,8 +1178,16 @@ static CURLcode ssh_statemach_act(struct Curl_easy *data, bool *block)
       }
       else {
         char *err_msg = NULL;
-        (void)libssh2_session_last_error(sshc->ssh_session,
-                                         &err_msg, NULL, 0);
+        char unknown[] = "Reason unknown (-1)";
+        if(rc == -1) {
+          /* No error message has been set and the last set error message, if
+             any, is from a previous error so ignore it. #11837 */
+          err_msg = unknown;
+        }
+        else {
+          (void)libssh2_session_last_error(sshc->ssh_session,
+                                           &err_msg, NULL, 0);
+        }
         infof(data, "SSH public key authentication failed: %s", err_msg);
         state(data, SSH_AUTH_PASS_INIT);
         rc = 0; /* clear rc and continue */