diff --git a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/public_key.c b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/public_key.c
index 761bfab352dc..f2dc27897319 100644
--- a/crypto/asymmetric_keys/public_key.c
+++ b/crypto/asymmetric_keys/public_key.c
@@ -115,7 +115,12 @@ static int software_key_query(const struct kernel_pkey_params *params,
 	if (IS_ERR(tfm))
 		return PTR_ERR(tfm);
 
-	ret = crypto_akcipher_set_pub_key(tfm, pkey->key, pkey->keylen);
+	if (pkey->key_is_private)
+		ret = crypto_akcipher_set_priv_key(tfm,
+						   pkey->key, pkey->keylen);
+	else
+		ret = crypto_akcipher_set_pub_key(tfm,
+						  pkey->key, pkey->keylen);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto error_free_tfm;
 
@@ -170,7 +175,12 @@ int public_key_verify_signature(const struct public_key *pkey,
 	if (!req)
 		goto error_free_tfm;
 
-	ret = crypto_akcipher_set_pub_key(tfm, pkey->key, pkey->keylen);
+	if (pkey->key_is_private)
+		ret = crypto_akcipher_set_priv_key(tfm,
+						   pkey->key, pkey->keylen);
+	else
+		ret = crypto_akcipher_set_pub_key(tfm,
+						  pkey->key, pkey->keylen);
 	if (ret)
 		goto error_free_req;
 
diff --git a/include/crypto/public_key.h b/include/crypto/public_key.h
index 3a1047a0195c..be626eac9113 100644
--- a/include/crypto/public_key.h
+++ b/include/crypto/public_key.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 struct public_key {
 	void *key;
 	u32 keylen;
+	bool key_is_private;
 	const char *id_type;
 	const char *pkey_algo;
 };