diff --git a/library/ssl_tls.c b/library/ssl_tls.c
index aceeb45dff..fd77dc3d3a 100644
--- a/library/ssl_tls.c
+++ b/library/ssl_tls.c
@@ -1936,8 +1936,9 @@ int mbedtls_ssl_write_certificate( mbedtls_ssl_context *ssl )
     {
         if( mbedtls_ssl_own_cert( ssl ) == NULL )
         {
-            MBEDTLS_SSL_DEBUG_MSG( 1, ( "got no certificate to send" ) );
-            return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_CERTIFICATE_REQUIRED );
+            /* Should never happen because we shouldn't have picked the
+             * ciphersuite if we don't have a certificate. */
+            return( MBEDTLS_ERR_SSL_INTERNAL_ERROR );
         }
     }
 #endif