diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index d6fe74d..ca83d50 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ deploy:
   before_script:
     - 'command -v ssh-agent >/dev/null || ( apk add --update openssh )'
     - eval $(ssh-agent -s)
-    - echo "${SSH_PRIVATE_KEY}" | ssh-add -
+    - cat "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY" | ssh-add -
     - mkdir -p ~/.ssh
     - chmod 700 ~/.ssh
     - ssh-keyscan $REMOTE_HOST >> ~/.ssh/known_hosts