diff --git a/kdc/main.c b/kdc/main.c
index 4598f185d..eb24238f5 100644
--- a/kdc/main.c
+++ b/kdc/main.c
@@ -64,6 +64,10 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     else if (ret)
 	errx (1, "krb5_init_context failed: %d", ret);
 
+    ret = krb5_kt_register(context, &hdb_kt_ops);
+    if (ret)
+	errx (1, "krb5_kt_register(HDB) failed: %d", ret);
+
     config = configure(context, argc, argv);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_SIGACTION