diff --git a/apps/req.c b/apps/req.c
index 65cb19b4ee..820cd18fc7 100644
--- a/apps/req.c
+++ b/apps/req.c
@@ -1336,11 +1336,17 @@ start2:			for (;;)
 
 				BIO_snprintf(buf,sizeof buf,"%s_min",type);
 				if (!NCONF_get_number(req_conf,attr_sect,buf, &n_min))
+					{
+					ERR_clear_error();
 					n_min = -1;
+					}
 
 				BIO_snprintf(buf,sizeof buf,"%s_max",type);
 				if (!NCONF_get_number(req_conf,attr_sect,buf, &n_max))
+					{
+					ERR_clear_error();
 					n_max = -1;
+					}
 
 				if (!add_attribute_object(req,
 					v->value,def,value,nid,n_min,n_max, chtype))