diff --git a/libssh/keyfiles.c b/libssh/keyfiles.c
index f4c03e5e..8092b3ac 100644
--- a/libssh/keyfiles.c
+++ b/libssh/keyfiles.c
@@ -1725,7 +1725,7 @@ int ssh_write_knownhost(ssh_session session) {
   }
 
   if (session->knownhosts == NULL) {
-    if (ssh_options_set(session, SSH_OPTIONS_KNOWNHOSTS, NULL) < 0) {
+    if (ssh_options_apply(session) < 0) {
       ssh_set_error(session, SSH_FATAL, "Can't find a known_hosts file");
       return -1;
     }