diff --git a/security/keys/request_key.c b/security/keys/request_key.c
index a3dc0d4..df3c041 100644
--- a/security/keys/request_key.c
+++ b/security/keys/request_key.c
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 	if (test_bit(KEY_FLAG_NEGATIVE, &key->flags))
-		return -ENOKEY;
+		return key->type_data.reject_error;
 	return key_validate(key);
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(wait_for_key_construction);