Unable to load private silc key (Repeated passphrase prompt)

[Adam <L3ftc0ast@…>]

I am unable to use an existing SILC keypair in Colloquy. When I place the keys into the Silc directory (setting names and permissions), anytime I try to login to a SILC server, it repeatedly prompts fr a passphrase...even though there isn't one on the key.

Steps to reproduce:
-Generate keypair with no passphrase using silc-toolkit

$ silc -C
New pair of keys will be created.  Please, answer to following questions.
PKCS name (l to list names) [rsa]: 
Key length in key_len_bits [2048]: 1024
Identifier [UN=testUN, HN=myhost, RN=RealName, E=e@mail.com]: UN=testUN, HN=myhost, RN=RealName, E=e@mail.com
Public key filename [public_key.pub]: 
Private key filename [private_key.prv]: 
Private key passphrase: 
Generating the key pair...
Public key has been saved into `public_key.pub'.
Private key has been saved into `private_key.prv'.
Press <Enter> to continue...

-Copy keypair into place

cp public_key.pub private_key.prv ~/Library/Application Support/Colloquy/Silc

-Start Colloquy and try to connect to SILC server which requires public key authentication
-Repeatedly presented with passphrase prompt, despite lack of passphrase on keypair

I can send an example priv/pub keypair if it is helpful to reproduce.