diff --git a/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh b/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh
index 6ea268b..b27f0e6 100755
--- a/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh
+++ b/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ set network.wan.proto='dhcp'
 # --- VPS gateway WireGuard (disabled until heartbeat activates it) ---
 set network.vps_gateway=interface
 set network.vps_gateway.proto='wireguard'
-set network.vps_gateway.private_key_file='/etc/parahub/wg_vps_private.key'
+set network.vps_gateway.private_key='$(cat /etc/parahub/wg_vps_private.key)'
 set network.vps_gateway.mtu='1420'
 set network.vps_gateway.ip4table='100'
 set network.vps_gateway.auto='0'
diff --git a/files/usr/bin/parahub-vps-setup b/files/usr/bin/parahub-vps-setup
index b4fa37d..d9bfd36 100755
--- a/files/usr/bin/parahub-vps-setup
+++ b/files/usr/bin/parahub-vps-setup
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ if ! uci -q get network.vps_gateway >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     uci batch <<-BOOTSTRAP_NET
 set network.vps_gateway=interface
 set network.vps_gateway.proto='wireguard'
-set network.vps_gateway.private_key_file='/etc/parahub/wg_vps_private.key'
+set network.vps_gateway.private_key='$(cat /etc/parahub/wg_vps_private.key)'
 set network.vps_gateway.mtu='1420'
 set network.vps_gateway.ip4table='100'
 BOOTSTRAP_NET