diff --git a/phpseclib/Crypt/DSA.php b/phpseclib/Crypt/DSA.php
index 1d38ed27..ac52bc47 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Crypt/DSA.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Crypt/DSA.php
@@ -292,6 +292,9 @@ abstract class DSA extends AsymmetricKey
      */
     public function getEngine()
     {
+        if (!isset(self::$engines['PHP'])) {
+            self::useBestEngine();
+        }
         return self::$engines['OpenSSL'] && in_array($this->hash->getHash(), openssl_get_md_methods()) ?
             'OpenSSL' : 'PHP';
     }
diff --git a/phpseclib/Crypt/EC.php b/phpseclib/Crypt/EC.php
index 6709d54c..736c6148 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Crypt/EC.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Crypt/EC.php
@@ -323,6 +323,9 @@ abstract class EC extends AsymmetricKey
      */
     public function getEngine()
     {
+        if (!isset(self::$engines['PHP'])) {
+            self::useBestEngine();
+        }
         if ($this->curve instanceof TwistedEdwardsCurve) {
             return $this->curve instanceof Ed25519 && self::$engines['libsodium'] && !isset($this->context) ?
                 'libsodium' : 'PHP';