diff --git a/internal/repository/key.go b/internal/repository/key.go
index 44e3d24e0..c69305207 100644
--- a/internal/repository/key.go
+++ b/internal/repository/key.go
@@ -115,8 +115,11 @@ func OpenKey(ctx context.Context, s *Repository, name string, password string) (
 func SearchKey(ctx context.Context, s *Repository, password string, maxKeys int) (k *Key, err error) {
 	checked := 0
 
-	// try at most maxKeysForSearch keys in repo
-	err = s.Backend().List(ctx, restic.KeyFile, func(fi restic.FileInfo) error {
+	listCtx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	// try at most maxKeys keys in repo
+	err = s.Backend().List(listCtx, restic.KeyFile, func(fi restic.FileInfo) error {
 		if maxKeys > 0 && checked > maxKeys {
 			return ErrMaxKeysReached
 		}
@@ -142,9 +145,14 @@ func SearchKey(ctx context.Context, s *Repository, password string, maxKeys int)
 
 		debug.Log("successfully opened key %v", fi.Name)
 		k = key
+		cancel()
 		return nil
 	})
 
+	if err == context.Canceled {
+		err = nil
+	}
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}