diff --git a/apps/x509.c b/apps/x509.c
index 12888c048..23e9b6bfe 100644
--- a/apps/x509.c
+++ b/apps/x509.c
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ int MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
 		else if (strcmp(*argv,"-CAkeyform") == 0)
 			{
 			if (--argc < 1) goto bad;
-			CAformat=str2fmt(*(++argv));
+			CAkeyformat=str2fmt(*(++argv));
 			}
 		else if (strcmp(*argv,"-days") == 0)
 			{