diff --git a/apps/x509.c b/apps/x509.c
index 67a70e7fea8b2b..9fdc0afb69e955 100644
--- a/apps/x509.c
+++ b/apps/x509.c
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ int x509_main(int argc, char **argv)
         xca = load_cert(CAfile, CAformat, "CA Certificate");
         if (xca == NULL)
             goto end;
-        if (!X509_set_issuer_name(x, X509_get_subject_name(xca)))
+        if (reqfile && !X509_set_issuer_name(x, X509_get_subject_name(xca)))
             goto end;
     }