diff --git a/lib/acme/client.rb b/lib/acme/client.rb
index 633e7a7..1933fbd 100644
--- a/lib/acme/client.rb
+++ b/lib/acme/client.rb
@@ -156,17 +156,17 @@ def certificate(url:, force_chain: nil)
 
     return pem if force_chain.nil?
 
-    return pem if ChainIdentifier.new(pem).match_name?(force_chain)
-
     alternative_urls = Array(response.headers.dig('link', 'alternate'))
     alternative_urls.each do |alternate_url|
       response = download(alternate_url, format: :pem)
-      pem = response.body
-      if ChainIdentifier.new(pem).match_name?(force_chain)
-        return pem
+      alternate_pem = response.body
+      if ChainIdentifier.new(alternate_pem).match_name?(force_chain)
+        return alternate_pem
       end
     end
 
+    return pem if ChainIdentifier.new(pem).match_name?(force_chain)
+
     raise Acme::Client::Error::ForcedChainNotFound, "Could not find any matching chain for `#{force_chain}`"
   end