diff --git a/librustzcash/src/rustzcash.rs b/librustzcash/src/rustzcash.rs
index 0697272..7e7c1a0 100644
--- a/librustzcash/src/rustzcash.rs
+++ b/librustzcash/src/rustzcash.rs
@@ -143,9 +143,13 @@ pub extern "system" fn librustzcash_init_zksnark_params(
     let output_path = Path::new(OsStr::from_bytes(unsafe {
         slice::from_raw_parts(output_path, output_path_len)
     }));
-    let sprout_path = Path::new(OsStr::from_bytes(unsafe {
-        slice::from_raw_parts(sprout_path, sprout_path_len)
-    }));
+    let sprout_path = if sprout_path.is_null() {
+        None
+    } else {
+        Some(Path::new(OsStr::from_bytes(unsafe {
+            slice::from_raw_parts(sprout_path, sprout_path_len)
+        })))
+    };
 
     init_zksnark_params(
         spend_path,
@@ -174,8 +178,13 @@ pub extern "system" fn librustzcash_init_zksnark_params(
         OsString::from_wide(unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(spend_path, spend_path_len) });
     let output_path =
         OsString::from_wide(unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(output_path, output_path_len) });
-    let sprout_path =
-        OsString::from_wide(unsafe { slice::from_raw_parts(sprout_path, sprout_path_len) });
+    let sprout_path = if sprout_path.is_null() {
+        None
+    } else {
+        Some(OsStr::from_wide(unsafe {
+            slice::from_raw_parts(sprout_path, sprout_path_len)
+        }))
+    };
 
     init_zksnark_params(
         Path::new(&spend_path),
@@ -192,7 +201,7 @@ fn init_zksnark_params(
     spend_hash: *const c_char,
     output_path: &Path,
     output_hash: *const c_char,
-    sprout_path: &Path,
+    sprout_path: Option<&Path>,
     sprout_hash: *const c_char,
 ) {
     // Initialize jubjub parameters here
@@ -206,9 +215,15 @@ fn init_zksnark_params(
         .to_str()
         .expect("hash should be a valid string");
 
-    let sprout_hash = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(sprout_hash) }
-        .to_str()
-        .expect("hash should be a valid string");
+    let sprout_hash = if sprout_path.is_none() {
+        None
+    } else {
+        Some(
+            unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(sprout_hash) }
+                .to_str()
+                .expect("hash should be a valid string"),
+        )
+    };
 
     // Load params
     let (spend_params, spend_vk, output_params, output_vk, sprout_vk) = load_parameters(
@@ -216,8 +231,8 @@ fn init_zksnark_params(
         spend_hash,
         output_path,
         output_hash,
-        Some(sprout_path),
-        Some(sprout_hash),
+        sprout_path,
+        sprout_hash,
     );
 
     // Caller is responsible for calling this function once, so
@@ -225,11 +240,11 @@ fn init_zksnark_params(
     unsafe {
         SAPLING_SPEND_PARAMS = Some(spend_params);
         SAPLING_OUTPUT_PARAMS = Some(output_params);
-        SPROUT_GROTH16_PARAMS_PATH = Some(sprout_path.to_owned());
+        SPROUT_GROTH16_PARAMS_PATH = sprout_path.map(|p| p.to_owned());
 
         SAPLING_SPEND_VK = Some(spend_vk);
         SAPLING_OUTPUT_VK = Some(output_vk);
-        SPROUT_GROTH16_VK = Some(sprout_vk.unwrap());
+        SPROUT_GROTH16_VK = sprout_vk;
     }
 }