diff --git a/kcm/protocol.c b/kcm/protocol.c
index c36bbe9c6..0b5e6189b 100644
--- a/kcm/protocol.c
+++ b/kcm/protocol.c
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ kcm_op_get_principal(krb5_context context,
     free(name);
     kcm_release_ccache(context, ccache);
 
-    return 0;
+    return ret;
 }
 
 /*