diff --git a/lib/crypto/rsa.js b/lib/crypto/rsa.js
index 83f122c3..060973b5 100644
--- a/lib/crypto/rsa.js
+++ b/lib/crypto/rsa.js
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@ exports.verify = function verify(alg, msg, sig, key) {
   assert(Buffer.isBuffer(sig));
   assert(Buffer.isBuffer(key));
 
-  pem = PEM.encode(key, 'rsa', 'public key');
   name = normalizeAlg('rsa', alg);
+  pem = PEM.encode(key, 'rsa', 'public key');
+
   ctx = crypto.createVerify(name);
 
   try {
@@ -58,8 +59,9 @@ exports.sign = function sign(alg, msg, key) {
   assert(Buffer.isBuffer(msg));
   assert(Buffer.isBuffer(key));
 
-  pem = PEM.encode(key, 'rsa', 'private key');
   name = normalizeAlg('rsa', alg);
+  pem = PEM.encode(key, 'rsa', 'private key');
+
   ctx = crypto.createSign(name);
   ctx.update(msg);