diff --git a/scd/app-openpgp.c b/scd/app-openpgp.c
index a7601b847..0fcfffe0b 100644
--- a/scd/app-openpgp.c
+++ b/scd/app-openpgp.c
@@ -1468,7 +1468,7 @@ get_public_key (app_t app, int keyno)
   xfree (buffer);
   xfree (mbuf);
   xfree (ebuf);
-  return 0;
+  return err;
 }
 #endif /* GNUPG_MAJOR_VERSION > 1 */