diff --git a/src/lib/enc_material.cpp b/src/lib/enc_material.cpp
index 3e8250afe..6e12b72ed 100644
--- a/src/lib/enc_material.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/enc_material.cpp
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ X25519EncMaterial::parse(pgp_packet_body_t &pkt) noexcept
         uint8_t bt = 0;
         if (!pkt.get(bt)) {
             RNP_LOG("failed to get salg");
-            return RNP_ERROR_BAD_FORMAT;
+            return false;
         }
         sess_len--;
         salg = (pgp_symm_alg_t) bt;