diff --git a/src/pkcs15init/pkcs15-lib.c b/src/pkcs15init/pkcs15-lib.c
index 61e41c61..a646f981 100644
--- a/src/pkcs15init/pkcs15-lib.c
+++ b/src/pkcs15init/pkcs15-lib.c
@@ -1414,7 +1414,7 @@ sc_pkcs15init_store_public_key(struct sc_pkcs15_card *p15card,
 	}
 
 	if ((usage = keyargs->usage) == 0) {
-		usage = SC_PKCS15_PRKEY_USAGE_SIGN;
+		usage = SC_PKCS15_PRKEY_USAGE_VERIFY;
 		if (keyargs->x509_usage)
 			usage = sc_pkcs15init_map_usage(keyargs->x509_usage, 0);
 	}