diff --git a/apps/pkeyutl.c b/apps/pkeyutl.c
index 7c62d1c870..19f2e5d9cf 100644
--- a/apps/pkeyutl.c
+++ b/apps/pkeyutl.c
@@ -322,8 +322,10 @@ int MAIN(int argc, char **argv)
                              buf_in, (size_t)buf_inlen);
         if (rv == 0)
             BIO_puts(out, "Signature Verification Failure\n");
-        else if (rv == 1)
+        else if (rv == 1) {
             BIO_puts(out, "Signature Verified Successfully\n");
+            ret = 0;
+        }
         if (rv >= 0)
             goto end;
     } else {