diff --git a/modules/services/ssh.nix b/modules/services/ssh.nix
index 53f20538..a60a9210 100644
--- a/modules/services/ssh.nix
+++ b/modules/services/ssh.nix
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ in {
                                 };
                                 publicKey = mkOption {
                                     description = "public key used for picking the correct key from the ssh-agent";
-                                    type = with types; nullOr path;
+                                    type = with types; nullOr str;
                                     default = null;
                                 };
                             };