diff --git a/src/exchange-lib/testing_api_cmd_status.c b/src/exchange-lib/testing_api_cmd_status.c
index f8186131e..77a5cbf9a 100644
--- a/src/exchange-lib/testing_api_cmd_status.c
+++ b/src/exchange-lib/testing_api_cmd_status.c
@@ -167,23 +167,42 @@ status_run (void *cls,
     return;
   }
 
-  if (GNUNET_OK !=
-      TALER_TESTING_get_trait_reserve_priv (create_reserve,
-                                            0,
-                                            &reserve_priv))
+  if (GNUNET_OK == TALER_TESTING_get_trait_reserve_priv
+      (create_reserve,
+       0,
+       &reserve_priv))
   {
-    GNUNET_break (0);
-    TALER_TESTING_interpreter_fail (is);
-    return;
+    GNUNET_CRYPTO_eddsa_key_get_public (&reserve_priv->eddsa_priv,
+                                        &reserve_pub.eddsa_pub);
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    const char *transfer_subject;
+
+    if (GNUNET_OK != TALER_TESTING_get_trait_transfer_subject
+        (create_reserve,
+         0,
+         &transfer_subject))
+    {
+      GNUNET_break (0);
+      TALER_LOG_ERROR
+        ("The reserve has neither a priv nor a subject line..\n");
+      TALER_TESTING_interpreter_fail (is);
+      return;
+    
+    }
+
+    GNUNET_STRINGS_string_to_data
+      (transfer_subject,
+       strlen (transfer_subject),
+       &reserve_pub.eddsa_pub,
+       sizeof (struct TALER_ReservePublicKeyP));
   }
 
-  GNUNET_CRYPTO_eddsa_key_get_public (&reserve_priv->eddsa_priv,
-                                      &reserve_pub.eddsa_pub);
-  ss->rsh
-    = TALER_EXCHANGE_reserve_status (ss->exchange,
-                                     &reserve_pub,
-                                     &reserve_status_cb,
-                                     ss);
+  ss->rsh = TALER_EXCHANGE_reserve_status (ss->exchange,
+                                           &reserve_pub,
+                                           &reserve_status_cb,
+                                           ss);
 }