diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 62d8c04c..d4901341 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -71,9 +71,9 @@ def make_sydent(test_config={}):
         test_config["db"].setdefault("db.file", ":memory:")
 
     # Set a value for the signingkey if it hasn't been set by the test
-    if "db" not in test_config:
+    if "crypto" not in test_config:
         test_config["crypto"] = {"ed25519.signingkey": DEFAULT_SIGNING_KEY}
-    elif "ed25519.signingkey" not in test_config["db"]:
+    elif "ed25519.signingkey" not in test_config["crypto"]:
         test_config["crypto"] = {"ed25519.signingkey": DEFAULT_SIGNING_KEY}
 
     reactor = ResolvingMemoryReactorClock()