diff --git a/tools/cert_create/include/key.h b/tools/cert_create/include/key.h
index 56f1c21..e0ecdae 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/include/key.h
+++ b/tools/cert_create/include/key.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@
 int key_new(key_t *key);
 #endif
 int key_create(key_t *key, int type, int key_bits);
-int key_load(key_t *key, unsigned int *err_code);
+unsigned int key_load(key_t *key);
 int key_store(key_t *key);
 void key_cleanup(void);
 
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/key.c b/tools/cert_create/src/key.c
index 14c8e18..04214aa 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/key.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/key.c
@@ -239,38 +239,34 @@
 
 }
 
-int key_load(key_t *key, unsigned int *err_code)
+unsigned int key_load(key_t *key)
 {
-	FILE *fp;
+	if (key->fn == NULL) {
+		VERBOSE("Key not specified\n");
+		return KEY_ERR_FILENAME;
+	}
 
-	if (key->fn) {
-		if (!strncmp(key->fn, "pkcs11:", 7)) {
-			/* Load key through pkcs11 */
-			key->key = key_load_pkcs11(key->fn);
-		} else {
-			/* Load key from file */
-			fp = fopen(key->fn, "r");
-			if (fp) {
-				key->key = PEM_read_PrivateKey(fp, NULL, NULL, NULL);
-				fclose(fp);
-			} else {
-				WARN("Cannot open file %s\n", key->fn);
-				*err_code = KEY_ERR_OPEN;
-			}
-		}
-		if (key->key) {
-			*err_code = KEY_ERR_NONE;
-			return 1;
-		} else {
-			ERROR("Cannot load key from %s\n", key->fn);
-			*err_code = KEY_ERR_LOAD;
-		}
+	if (strncmp(key->fn, "pkcs11:", 7) == 0) {
+		/* Load key through pkcs11 */
+		key->key = key_load_pkcs11(key->fn);
 	} else {
-		VERBOSE("Key not specified\n");
-		*err_code = KEY_ERR_FILENAME;
+		/* Load key from file */
+		FILE *fp = fopen(key->fn, "r");
+		if (fp == NULL) {
+			WARN("Cannot open file %s\n", key->fn);
+			return KEY_ERR_OPEN;
+		}
+
+		key->key = PEM_read_PrivateKey(fp, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+		fclose(fp);
+	}
+
+	if (key->key == NULL) {
+		ERROR("Cannot load key from %s\n", key->fn);
+		return KEY_ERR_LOAD;
 	}
 
-	return 0;
+	return KEY_ERR_NONE;
 }
 
 int key_store(key_t *key)
diff --git a/tools/cert_create/src/main.c b/tools/cert_create/src/main.c
index 2ab6bcf..f10a768 100644
--- a/tools/cert_create/src/main.c
+++ b/tools/cert_create/src/main.c
@@ -441,7 +441,8 @@
 #endif
 
 		/* First try to load the key from disk */
-		if (key_load(&keys[i], &err_code)) {
+		err_code = key_load(&keys[i]);
+		if (err_code == KEY_ERR_NONE) {
 			/* Key loaded successfully */
 			continue;
 		}