diff --git a/src/lib/net/SecureUtils.cpp b/src/lib/net/SecureUtils.cpp
index bc820a723..d6e0d24b7 100644
--- a/src/lib/net/SecureUtils.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/net/SecureUtils.cpp
@@ -66,14 +66,12 @@ void generatePemSelfSignedCert(const QString &path, int keyLength)
 {
   auto expirationDays = 365;
 
-  auto *privateKey = EVP_PKEY_new();
+  auto *privateKey = EVP_RSA_gen(keyLength);
   if (!privateKey) {
-    throw std::runtime_error("could not allocate private key for certificate");
+    throw std::runtime_error("failed to generate a " + std::to_string(keyLength) + "bit key for certificate");
   }
   auto privateKeyFree = finally([privateKey]() { EVP_PKEY_free(privateKey); });
 
-  privateKey = EVP_RSA_gen(keyLength);
-
   auto *cert = X509_new();
   if (!cert) {
     throw std::runtime_error("could not allocate certificate");