diff --git a/hosts/common/home/ssh.nix b/hosts/common/home/ssh.nix
index c8b5c218..ad486997 100644
--- a/hosts/common/home/ssh.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/home/ssh.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ let
 in
 {
   # ssh key is stored in private storage
-  sane.user.persist.private = [ ".ssh/id_ed25519" ];
+  sane.user.persist.private = [
+    { type = "file"; path = ".ssh/id_ed25519"; }
+  ];
   sane.user.fs.".ssh/id_ed25519.pub" =
     mkIf (user-pubkey != null) (sane-lib.fs.wantedText user-pubkey);
   sane.user.fs.".ssh/known_hosts" = sane-lib.fs.wantedText known-hosts-text;