diff --git a/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py b/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py
index 97c7fd054495..9f301d95485a 100644
--- a/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py
+++ b/src/cryptography/hazmat/backends/openssl/backend.py
@@ -2675,9 +2675,12 @@ def _load_pkcs7_certificates(self, p7):
                 _Reasons.UNSUPPORTED_SERIALIZATION,
             )
 
+        certs: list[x509.Certificate] = []
+        if p7.d.sign == self._ffi.NULL:
+            return certs
+
         sk_x509 = p7.d.sign.cert
         num = self._lib.sk_X509_num(sk_x509)
-        certs = []
         for i in range(num):
             x509 = self._lib.sk_X509_value(sk_x509, i)
             self.openssl_assert(x509 != self._ffi.NULL)
diff --git a/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_pkcs7.py b/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_pkcs7.py
index b7afe7512ac2..158a080e104d 100644
--- a/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_pkcs7.py
+++ b/tests/hazmat/primitives/test_pkcs7.py
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@
 from .utils import load_vectors_from_file
 from ...utils import raises_unsupported_algorithm
 
+    def test_load_pkcs7_empty_certificates(self, backend):
+        der = b"\x30\x0B\x06\x09\x2A\x86\x48\x86\xF7\x0D\x01\x07\x02"
+
+        certificates = pkcs7.load_der_pkcs7_certificates(der)
+        assert certificates == []
+
 
 class TestPKCS7Loading(object):
     def test_load_invalid_der_pkcs7(self):