diff --git a/include/misc.h b/include/misc.h
index 26c1ffb..16acf09 100644
--- a/include/misc.h
+++ b/include/misc.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include <why2/flags.h>
 
 void why2_generate_text_key_chain(char *key, int *textKeyChain, int textKeyChainSize); //GENERATES ARRAY FOR ENCRYPTION/DECRYPTION
-void why2_generate_key(char *key, int keyLength); //GENERATE ENCRYPTION KEY
+char *why2_generate_key(int key_length); //GENERATE ENCRYPTION KEY
 void why2_deallocate_output(why2_output_flags flags); //DEALLOCATES flags
 enum WHY2_EXIT_CODES why2_check_version(void); //THIS FUNCTION CHECKS IF LATEST WHY2_VERSION OF WHY2 IS USED
 enum WHY2_EXIT_CODES why2_check_key(char *key); //CHECKS IF KEY IS VALID
diff --git a/src/core/lib/utils/misc.c b/src/core/lib/utils/misc.c
index e364151..92a4322 100644
--- a/src/core/lib/utils/misc.c
+++ b/src/core/lib/utils/misc.c
@@ -410,9 +410,10 @@ unsigned long why2_compare_time_micro(struct timeval startTime, struct timeval f
     return (finishTime.tv_sec - startTime.tv_sec) * 1000000 + finishTime.tv_usec - startTime.tv_usec;
 }
 
-void why2_generate_key(char *key, int keyLength)
+char *why2_generate_key(int key_length)
 {
     int numberBuffer;
+    char *key;
 
     if (!seedSet)
     {
@@ -428,7 +429,7 @@ void why2_generate_key(char *key, int keyLength)
             if (!why2_get_flags().no_output) fprintf(stderr, "Reading file failed!\n");
 
             why2_clean_memory("core_key_generation_random");
-            return;
+            return NULL;
         }
 
         numberBuffer = abs(numberBuffer); //MAKE numberBuffer POSITIVE
@@ -441,7 +442,9 @@ void why2_generate_key(char *key, int keyLength)
         why2_reset_memory_identifier();
     }
 
-    for (int i = 0; i < keyLength; i++)
+    key = why2_malloc(key_length + 1);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < key_length; i++)
     {
         //SET numberBuffer TO RANDOM NUMBER BETWEEN 0 AND 52
         numberBuffer = (rand() % 52) + 1;
@@ -459,5 +462,7 @@ void why2_generate_key(char *key, int keyLength)
         key[i] = (char) numberBuffer;
     }
 
-    key[keyLength] = '\0';
+    key[key_length] = '\0';
+
+    return key;
 }
\ No newline at end of file