diff --git a/src/util/certificates.ts b/src/util/certificates.ts
index 37d05ff32..44c81370b 100644
--- a/src/util/certificates.ts
+++ b/src/util/certificates.ts
@@ -451,7 +451,9 @@ class CA {
             }
         }
         const subjectDistinguishedName = new x509.Name(subjectJsonNameParams).toString();
-        const issuerDistinguishedName = this.caCert.subject;
+        // Preserve the encoded name: text conversion can change ASN.1 string types,
+        // preventing clients that compare issuer/subject DER from building the chain.
+        const issuerDistinguishedName = this.caCert.subjectName;
 
         const notBefore = new Date();
         notBefore.setDate(notBefore.getDate() - 1); // Valid from 24 hours ago
diff --git a/test/certificate-issuer.spec.ts b/test/certificate-issuer.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cc81f27dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/certificate-issuer.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { Buffer } from 'buffer';
+import * as x509 from '@peculiar/x509';
+import { AsnConvert } from '@peculiar/asn1-schema';
+import { Certificate } from '@peculiar/asn1-x509';
+
+import { getCA } from '../src/util/certificates';
+import { expect, nodeOnly } from './test-utils';
+
+nodeOnly(() => {
+    describe("External CA issuer encoding", () => {
+        for (const certificateTransparency of [false, true]) {
+            it(`preserves the encoded CA name with CT ${certificateTransparency ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}`, async () => {
+                const keys = await crypto.subtle.generateKey(
+                    { name: 'ECDSA', namedCurve: 'P-256' },
+                    true,
+                    ['sign', 'verify']
+                );
+
+                // ASCII text can legitimately use UTF8String, as OpenSSL-generated
+                // names do. Converting this name to text loses that distinction.
+                const name = new x509.Name([
+                    { C: [{ printableString: 'GB' }] },
+                    { O: [{ utf8String: 'Example Organization' }] },
+                    { CN: [{ utf8String: 'Example Test CA' }] }
+                ]);
+                const root = await x509.X509CertificateGenerator.createSelfSigned({
+                    name,
+                    serialNumber: '01',
+                    notBefore: new Date(Date.now() - 60_000),
+                    notAfter: new Date(Date.now() + 86_400_000),
+                    signingAlgorithm: { name: 'ECDSA', hash: 'SHA-256' },
+                    keys,
+                    extensions: [
+                        new x509.BasicConstraintsExtension(true, undefined, true),
+                        new x509.KeyUsagesExtension(x509.KeyUsageFlags.keyCertSign, true)
+                    ]
+                });
+                const key = x509.PemConverter.encode(
+                    await crypto.subtle.exportKey('pkcs8', keys.privateKey),
+                    'PRIVATE KEY'
+                );
+
+                const ca = await getCA({ key, cert: root.toString('pem'), certificateTransparency });
+                const leaf = new x509.X509Certificate((await ca.generateCertificate('localhost')).cert);
+                const rootAsn = AsnConvert.parse(root.rawData, Certificate);
+                const leafAsn = AsnConvert.parse(leaf.rawData, Certificate);
+
+                expect(leaf.issuer).to.equal(root.subject);
+                expect(Buffer.from(AsnConvert.serialize(leafAsn.tbsCertificate.issuer)))
+                    .to.deep.equal(Buffer.from(AsnConvert.serialize(rootAsn.tbsCertificate.subject)));
+                expect(await leaf.verify({ publicKey: root })).to.equal(true);
+                expect(leaf.getExtension('1.3.6.1.4.1.11129.2.4.2') !== null)
+                    .to.equal(certificateTransparency);
+            });
+        }
+    });
+});