diff --git a/guix/pk-crypto.scm b/guix/pk-crypto.scm
index b9ab02861c..481d3f2463 100644
--- a/guix/pk-crypto.scm
+++ b/guix/pk-crypto.scm
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ (define-module (guix pk-crypto)
   #:use-module (system foreign)
   #:use-module (rnrs bytevectors)
   #:use-module (ice-9 match)
-  #:export (canonical-sexp?
+  #:export (gcrypt-version
+            canonical-sexp?
             error-source
             error-string
             string->canonical-sexp
@@ -86,6 +87,17 @@ (define libgcrypt-func
       "Return a pointer to symbol FUNC in libgcrypt."
       (dynamic-func func lib))))
 
+(define gcrypt-version
+  ;; According to the manual, this function must be called before any other,
+  ;; and it's not clear whether it can be called more than once.  So call it
+  ;; right here from the top level.
+  (let* ((ptr     (libgcrypt-func "gcry_check_version"))
+         (proc    (pointer->procedure '* ptr '(*)))
+         (version (pointer->string (proc %null-pointer))))
+    (lambda ()
+      "Return the version number of libgcrypt as a string."
+      version)))
+
 (define finalize-canonical-sexp!
   (libgcrypt-func "gcry_sexp_release"))
 
diff --git a/guix/scripts/archive.scm b/guix/scripts/archive.scm
index 0e67321026..c900fcecb9 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/archive.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/archive.scm
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@ (define (show-help)
   (newline)
   (show-bug-report-information))
 
+(define %key-generation-parameters
+  ;; Default key generation parameters.  We prefer Ed25519, but it was
+  ;; introduced in libgcrypt 1.6.0.
+  (if (version>? (gcrypt-version) "1.6.0")
+      "(genkey (ecdsa (curve Ed25519) (flags rfc6979)))"
+      "(genkey (rsa (nbits 4:4096)))"))
+
 (define %options
   ;; Specifications of the command-line options.
   (cons* (option '(#\h "help") #f #f
@@ -114,8 +121,7 @@ (define %options
                        ;; libgcrypt 1.6.0.
                        (let ((params
                               (string->canonical-sexp
-                               (or arg "\
- (genkey (ecdsa (curve Ed25519) (flags rfc6979)))"))))
+                               (or arg %key-generation-parameters))))
                          (alist-cons 'generate-key params result)))
                      (lambda (key err)
                        (leave (_ "invalid key generation parameters: ~a: ~a~%")
diff --git a/tests/pk-crypto.scm b/tests/pk-crypto.scm
index 4d498020f5..294c7f3df8 100644
--- a/tests/pk-crypto.scm
+++ b/tests/pk-crypto.scm
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ (define %ecc-key-pair
                        #:key-type (key-type public))
                       public)))))
 
+;; Ed25519 appeared in libgcrypt 1.6.0.
+(test-skip (if (version>? (gcrypt-version) "1.6.0") 0 1))
 (test-assert "sign + verify, Ed25519"
   (let* ((pair   (string->canonical-sexp %ecc-key-pair))
          (secret (find-sexp-token pair 'private-key))