diff --git a/wolfcrypt/src/asn.c b/wolfcrypt/src/asn.c
index 0ead2f4643..0c520027bc 100644
--- a/wolfcrypt/src/asn.c
+++ b/wolfcrypt/src/asn.c
@@ -30198,7 +30198,7 @@ static int MakeSignature(CertSignCtx* certSignCtx, const byte* buf, word32 sz,
 
     case CERTSIGN_STATE_DO:
         certSignCtx->state = CERTSIGN_STATE_DO;
-        ret = ALGO_ID_E; /* default to error */
+        ret = -1; /* default to error, reassigned to ALGO_ID_E below. */
 
     #ifndef NO_RSA
         if (rsaKey) {
@@ -30281,6 +30281,9 @@ static int MakeSignature(CertSignCtx* certSignCtx, const byte* buf, word32 sz,
         }
     #endif /* HAVE_SPHINCS */
 
+        if (ret == -1)
+            ret = ALGO_ID_E;
+
         break;
     }