diff --git a/include/mbedtls/ctr_drbg.h b/include/mbedtls/ctr_drbg.h
index 766e64701..c14507ff6 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/ctr_drbg.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/ctr_drbg.h
@@ -214,11 +214,8 @@ void mbedtls_ctr_drbg_init( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx );
  *   with mbedtls_entropy_init() (which registers the platform's default
  *   entropy sources).
  *
- * \p f_entropy is always called with a buffer size equal to the entropy
- * length. The entropy length is initially #MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_ENTROPY_LEN
- * and this value is always used for the initial seeding. You can change
- * the entropy length for subsequent seeding by calling
- * mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_entropy_len() after this function.
+ * The entropy length is #MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_ENTROPY_LEN by default.
+ * You can override it by calling mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_entropy_len().
  *
  * You can provide a personalization string in addition to the
  * entropy source, to make this instantiation as unique as possible.
@@ -255,6 +252,8 @@ void mbedtls_ctr_drbg_init( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx );
  * \param f_entropy     The entropy callback, taking as arguments the
  *                      \p p_entropy context, the buffer to fill, and the
  *                      length of the buffer.
+ *                      \p f_entropy is always called with a buffer size
+ *                      equal to the entropy length.
  * \param p_entropy     The entropy context to pass to \p f_entropy.
  * \param custom        The personalization string.
  *                      This can be \c NULL, in which case the personalization
@@ -298,15 +297,10 @@ void mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_prediction_resistance( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx,
 
 /**
  * \brief               This function sets the amount of entropy grabbed on each
- *                      subsequent reseed.
+ *                      seed or reseed.
  *
  * The default value is #MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_ENTROPY_LEN.
  *
- * \note                mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed() always sets the entropy length
- *                      to #MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_ENTROPY_LEN, so this function
- *                      only has an effect when it is called after
- *                      mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed().
- *
  * \note                The security strength of CTR_DRBG is bounded by the
  *                      entropy length. Thus:
  *                      - When using AES-256
diff --git a/library/ctr_drbg.c b/library/ctr_drbg.c
index 80544dfb8..32b34e462 100644
--- a/library/ctr_drbg.c
+++ b/library/ctr_drbg.c
@@ -365,29 +365,22 @@ exit:
     return( ret );
 }
 
-/*
- * Non-public function wrapped by mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed(). Necessary to allow
- * NIST tests to succeed (which require known length fixed entropy)
- */
 /* CTR_DRBG_Instantiate with derivation function (SP 800-90A §10.2.1.3.2)
- * mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len(ctx, f_entropy, p_entropy,
- *                                   custom, len, entropy_len)
+ * mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed(ctx, f_entropy, p_entropy, custom, len)
  * implements
  * CTR_DRBG_Instantiate(entropy_input, nonce, personalization_string,
  *                      security_strength) -> initial_working_state
  * with inputs
  *   custom[:len] = nonce || personalization_string
- * where entropy_input comes from f_entropy for entropy_len bytes
+ * where entropy_input comes from f_entropy for ctx->entropy_len bytes
  * and with outputs
  *   ctx = initial_working_state
  */
-int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len(
-                   mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx,
-                   int (*f_entropy)(void *, unsigned char *, size_t),
-                   void *p_entropy,
-                   const unsigned char *custom,
-                   size_t len,
-                   size_t entropy_len )
+int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx,
+                           int (*f_entropy)(void *, unsigned char *, size_t),
+                           void *p_entropy,
+                           const unsigned char *custom,
+                           size_t len )
 {
     int ret;
     unsigned char key[MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_KEYSIZE];
@@ -399,7 +392,8 @@ int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len(
     ctx->f_entropy = f_entropy;
     ctx->p_entropy = p_entropy;
 
-    ctx->entropy_len = entropy_len;
+    if( ctx->entropy_len == 0 )
+        ctx->entropy_len = MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_ENTROPY_LEN;
     ctx->reseed_interval = MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_RESEED_INTERVAL;
 
     /*
@@ -417,14 +411,15 @@ int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len(
     return( 0 );
 }
 
-int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx,
-                   int (*f_entropy)(void *, unsigned char *, size_t),
-                   void *p_entropy,
-                   const unsigned char *custom,
-                   size_t len )
+/* Backward compatibility wrapper */
+int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len(
+    mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context *ctx,
+    int (*f_entropy)(void *, unsigned char *, size_t), void *p_entropy,
+    const unsigned char *custom, size_t len,
+    size_t entropy_len )
 {
-    return( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len( ctx, f_entropy, p_entropy, custom, len,
-                                       MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_ENTROPY_LEN ) );
+    mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_entropy_len( ctx, entropy_len );
+    return( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed( ctx, f_entropy, p_entropy, custom, len ) );
 }
 
 /* CTR_DRBG_Generate with derivation function (SP 800-90A §10.2.1.5.2)
@@ -678,8 +673,11 @@ int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_self_test( int verbose )
         mbedtls_printf( "  CTR_DRBG (PR = TRUE) : " );
 
     test_offset = 0;
-    CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len( &ctx, ctr_drbg_self_test_entropy,
-                                (void *) entropy_source_pr, nonce_pers_pr, 16, 32 ) );
+    mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_entropy_len( &ctx, 32 );
+    CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed( &ctx,
+                                ctr_drbg_self_test_entropy,
+                                (void *) entropy_source_pr,
+                                nonce_pers_pr, 16 ) );
     mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_prediction_resistance( &ctx, MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_PR_ON );
     CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_random( &ctx, buf, MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_BLOCKSIZE ) );
     CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_random( &ctx, buf, MBEDTLS_CTR_DRBG_BLOCKSIZE ) );
@@ -699,8 +697,11 @@ int mbedtls_ctr_drbg_self_test( int verbose )
     mbedtls_ctr_drbg_init( &ctx );
 
     test_offset = 0;
-    CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len( &ctx, ctr_drbg_self_test_entropy,
-                            (void *) entropy_source_nopr, nonce_pers_nopr, 16, 32 ) );
+    mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_entropy_len( &ctx, 32 );
+    CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed( &ctx,
+                                ctr_drbg_self_test_entropy,
+                                (void *) entropy_source_nopr,
+                                nonce_pers_nopr, 16 ) );
     CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_random( &ctx, buf, 16 ) );
     CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_reseed( &ctx, NULL, 0 ) );
     CHK( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_random( &ctx, buf, 16 ) );
diff --git a/tests/suites/test_suite_ctr_drbg.function b/tests/suites/test_suite_ctr_drbg.function
index 4a97826f6..01050d92d 100644
--- a/tests/suites/test_suite_ctr_drbg.function
+++ b/tests/suites/test_suite_ctr_drbg.function
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ static void ctr_drbg_validate_internal( int reseed_mode, data_t * nonce,
 
     /* CTR_DRBG_Instantiate(entropy[:entropy->len], nonce, perso, <ignored>)
      * where nonce||perso = nonce[nonce->len] */
-    TEST_ASSERT( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed_entropy_len(
+    mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_entropy_len( &ctx, entropy_chunk_len );
+    TEST_ASSERT( mbedtls_ctr_drbg_seed(
                      &ctx,
                      mbedtls_test_entropy_func, entropy->x,
-                     nonce->x, nonce->len,
-                     entropy_chunk_len ) == 0 );
+                     nonce->x, nonce->len ) == 0 );
     if( reseed_mode == RESEED_ALWAYS )
         mbedtls_ctr_drbg_set_prediction_resistance(
             &ctx,