diff --git a/lib/vtls/openssl.c b/lib/vtls/openssl.c
index 186ee34e5..eff5c2106 100644
--- a/lib/vtls/openssl.c
+++ b/lib/vtls/openssl.c
@@ -838,15 +838,15 @@ int cert_stuff(struct connectdata *conn,
       return 0;
     }
 
-    file_type = do_file_type(key_type);
+    if(!key_file)
+      key_file = cert_file;
+    else
+      file_type = do_file_type(key_type);
 
     switch(file_type) {
     case SSL_FILETYPE_PEM:
       if(cert_done)
         break;
-      if(!key_file)
-        /* cert & key can only be in PEM case in the same file */
-        key_file = cert_file;
       /* FALLTHROUGH */
     case SSL_FILETYPE_ASN1:
       if(SSL_CTX_use_PrivateKey_file(ctx, key_file, file_type) != 1) {