diff --git a/lib/hx509/hxtool.c b/lib/hx509/hxtool.c
index c934e5a14..d9c315c34 100644
--- a/lib/hx509/hxtool.c
+++ b/lib/hx509/hxtool.c
@@ -1296,9 +1296,7 @@ get_key(const char *fn, const char *type, int optbits,
             hx509_certs certs = NULL;
             hx509_cert cert = NULL;
 
-            cert = hx509_cert_init_private_key(context,
-                                               _hx509_private_key_ref(*signer),
-                                               NULL);
+            cert = hx509_cert_init_private_key(context, *signer, NULL);
             if (cert)
                 ret = hx509_certs_init(context, fn,
                                        HX509_CERTS_CREATE |