diff --git a/src/barebox-state/backend_format_raw.c b/src/barebox-state/backend_format_raw.c
index 6f0d930..e028ea6 100644
--- a/src/barebox-state/backend_format_raw.c
+++ b/src/barebox-state/backend_format_raw.c
@@ -261,8 +261,13 @@
 	}
 
 	ret = keystore_get_secret(secret_name, &key, &key_len);
-	if (ret)
+	if (ret == -ENOENT) {	/* -ENOENT == does not exist */
+		dev_info(raw->dev, "Could not get secret '%s' - probe deferred\n",
+			 secret_name);
+		return -EPROBE_DEFER;
+	} else if (ret) {
 		return ret;
+	}
 
 	digest = digest_alloc(algo);
 	if (!digest) {