diff --git a/src/legacy.c b/src/legacy.c
index 6ba5c624..65a47d6e 100644
--- a/src/legacy.c
+++ b/src/legacy.c
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ ssh_private_key privatekey_from_file(ssh_session session,
                                      auth_fn,
                                      auth_data,
                                      &key);
-    if (rc == SSH_ERROR) {
+    if (rc != SSH_OK) {
         return NULL;
     }