diff --git a/lib/krb5/keytab.c b/lib/krb5/keytab.c
index 7190e90bc..f913142c7 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/keytab.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/keytab.c
@@ -151,6 +151,8 @@ krb5_kt_get_entry(krb5_context context,
   krb5_kt_cursor cursor;
 
   r = krb5_kt_start_seq_get (context, id, &cursor);
+  if (r)
+    return KRB5_KT_NOTFOUND; /* XXX i.e. file not found */
   while (krb5_kt_next_entry(context, id, entry, &cursor) == 0) {
     if ((principal == NULL || krb5_principal_compare(context,
 						     principal,