diff --git a/acertmgr.py b/acertmgr.py
index 4ae5e58..a8f304b 100755
--- a/acertmgr.py
+++ b/acertmgr.py
@@ -53,11 +53,13 @@ def cert_get(domains, settings):
 
     key_file = settings['server_key']
     if not os.path.isfile(key_file):
-        raise FileNotFoundError("The server key file (%s) is missing!" % key_file)
+        print("Server key not found at '{0}'. Creating RSA key.".format(key_file))
+        tools.new_rsa_key(key_file)
 
     acc_file = settings['account_key']
     if not os.path.isfile(acc_file):
-        raise FileNotFoundError("The account key file (%s) is missing!" % acc_file)
+        print("Account key not found at '{0}'. Creating RSA key.".format(acc_file))
+        tools.new_rsa_key(acc_file)
 
     filename = hashlib.md5(domains).hexdigest()
     _, csr_file = tempfile.mkstemp(".csr", "%s." % filename)
diff --git a/tools.py b/tools.py
index 76fe01b..afb80f6 100644
--- a/tools.py
+++ b/tools.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import os
 from cryptography import x509
 from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend
 from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import hashes, serialization
+from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import rsa
 from cryptography.x509.oid import NameOID
 
 
@@ -66,6 +67,27 @@ def new_cert_request(names, key):
     return req
 
 
+# @brief generate a new rsa key
+# @param path path where the new key file should be written
+def new_rsa_key(path, key_size=4096):
+    private_key = rsa.generate_private_key(
+        public_exponent=65537,
+        key_size=key_size,
+        backend=default_backend()
+    )
+    pem = private_key.private_bytes(
+        encoding=serialization.Encoding.PEM,
+        format=serialization.PrivateFormat.TraditionalOpenSSL,
+        encryption_algorithm=serialization.NoEncryption()
+    )
+    with open(path, 'wb') as pem_out:
+        pem_out.write(pem)
+    try:
+        os.chmod(path, int("0400", 8))
+    except OSError:
+        print('Warning: Could not set file permissions on {0}!'.format(path))
+
+
 # @brief convert certificate to PEM format
 # @param cert certificate object in pyopenssl format
 # @return the certificate in PEM format