diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix
index c415890d6c40..ec7e8888c036 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/azure-image.nix
@@ -121,5 +121,5 @@ in
 
   networking.usePredictableInterfaceNames = false;
 
-  users.extraUsers.root.openssh.authorizedKeys.keys = [ builtins.readFile <ssh-pub-key> ];
+  users.extraUsers.root.openssh.authorizedKeys.keys = [ (builtins.readFile <ssh-pub-key>) ];
 }