diff --git a/zyklonb.c b/zyklonb.c
index 10df9b0..47533f0 100644
--- a/zyklonb.c
+++ b/zyklonb.c
@@ -282,7 +282,8 @@ irc_initialize_ssl (struct bot_context *ctx, struct error **e)
 		if (!path)
 			print_error ("%s: %s", "cannot open file", ssl_cert);
 		// XXX: perhaps we should read the file ourselves for better messages
-		else if (!SSL_use_certificate_file (ctx->ssl, path, SSL_FILETYPE_PEM))
+		else if (!SSL_use_certificate_file (ctx->ssl, path, SSL_FILETYPE_PEM)
+			|| !SSL_use_PrivateKey_file (ctx->ssl, path, SSL_FILETYPE_PEM))
 			print_error ("%s: %s", "setting the SSL client certificate failed",
 				ERR_error_string (ERR_get_error (), NULL));
 		free (path);