diff --git a/tools/wks-util.c b/tools/wks-util.c
index 4a15d672a..fed568873 100644
--- a/tools/wks-util.c
+++ b/tools/wks-util.c
@@ -1185,6 +1185,7 @@ install_key_from_spec_file (const char *fname)
       goto leave;
     }
 
+  err = 0;
   while (es_read_line (fp, &line, &linelen, &maxlen) > 0)
     {
       if (!maxlen)