diff --git a/programs/x509/cert_write.c b/programs/x509/cert_write.c
index 0f0703f4b2..d1c716b8a4 100644
--- a/programs/x509/cert_write.c
+++ b/programs/x509/cert_write.c
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ int main( void )
     "    basic_constraints=%%d    default: 1\n"             \
     "                            Possible values: 0, 1\n"   \
     "                            (Considered for v3 only)\n"\
-    "    sig_alg=%%s              default: SHA-256\n"       \
     "    key_usage=%%s            default: (empty)\n"       \
     "                            Comma-separated-list of values:\n"     \
     "                            digital_signature\n"     \
@@ -190,7 +189,6 @@ struct options
     int basic_constraints;      /* add basic constraints ext to CRT     */
     int version;                /* CRT version                          */
     mbedtls_md_type_t md;       /* Hash used for signing                */
-    mbedtls_md_type_t sig_alg;  /* MD to use generating signature       */
     unsigned char key_usage;    /* key usage flags                      */
     mbedtls_asn1_sequence *ext_key_usage; /* extended key usages        */
     unsigned char ns_cert_type; /* NS cert type                         */
@@ -286,7 +284,6 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
     opt.selfsign            = DFL_SELFSIGN;
     opt.is_ca               = DFL_IS_CA;
     opt.max_pathlen         = DFL_MAX_PATHLEN;
-    opt.sig_alg             = DFL_SIG_ALG;
     opt.key_usage           = DFL_KEY_USAGE;
     opt.ext_key_usage       = DFL_EXT_KEY_USAGE;
     opt.ns_cert_type        = DFL_NS_CERT_TYPE;
@@ -416,17 +413,6 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
                 goto usage;
             }
         }
-        else if( strcmp( p, "sig_alg") == 0 )
-        {
-            if( strcmp( q, "SHA-1" ) == 0 )
-                opt.sig_alg = MBEDTLS_MD_SHA1;
-            else if( strcmp( q, "SHA-256" ) == 0 )
-                opt.sig_alg = MBEDTLS_MD_SHA256;
-            else if( strcmp( q, "MD5" ) == 0 )
-                opt.sig_alg = MBEDTLS_MD_MD5;
-            else
-                goto usage;
-        }
         else if( strcmp( p, "key_usage" ) == 0 )
         {
             while( q != NULL )
@@ -746,8 +732,6 @@ int main( int argc, char *argv[] )
         mbedtls_printf( " ok\n" );
     }
 
-    mbedtls_x509write_crt_set_md_alg( &crt, opt.sig_alg );
-
 #if defined(MBEDTLS_SHA1_C)
     if( opt.version == MBEDTLS_X509_CRT_VERSION_3 &&
         opt.subject_identifier != 0 )