diff --git a/programs/pkey/pk_verify.c b/programs/pkey/pk_verify.c
index a188eb9..f2664a6 100644
--- a/programs/pkey/pk_verify.c
+++ b/programs/pkey/pk_verify.c
@@ -54,14 +54,15 @@
 int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
 {
     FILE *f;
-    int ret;
+    int ret = 1;
     size_t i;
     pk_context pk;
     unsigned char hash[20];
     unsigned char buf[POLARSSL_MPI_MAX_SIZE];
     char filename[512];
 
-    ret = 1;
+    pk_init( &pk );
+
     if( argc != 3 )
     {
         printf( "usage: pk_verify <key_file> <filename>\n" );
@@ -76,8 +77,6 @@
     printf( "\n  . Reading public key from '%s'", argv[1] );
     fflush( stdout );
 
-    pk_init( &pk );
-
     if( ( ret = pk_parse_public_keyfile( &pk, argv[1] ) ) != 0 )
     {
         printf( " failed\n  ! pk_parse_public_keyfile returned -0x%04x\n", -ret );