diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/web-apps/photoprism.nix b/nixos/modules/services/web-apps/photoprism.nix
index cb10d64bed7e..0b0cd3383fcd 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/web-apps/photoprism.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/web-apps/photoprism.nix
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ in
 
         LoadCredential = lib.optionalString (
           cfg.passwordFile != null
-        ) "PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD:${cfg.passwordFile}";
+        ) "PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE:${cfg.passwordFile}";
 
         LockPersonality = true;
         PrivateDevices = true;
@@ -146,19 +146,17 @@ in
       wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
       environment = env;
 
-      # reminder: easier password configuration will come in https://github.com/photoprism/photoprism/pull/2302
       preStart = ''
         ln -sf ${manage} photoprism-manage
-
         ${lib.optionalString (cfg.passwordFile != null) ''
-          export PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD=$(cat "$CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY/PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD")
+          export PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE=$CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY/PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE
         ''}
         exec ${cfg.package}/bin/photoprism migrations run -f
       '';
 
       script = ''
         ${lib.optionalString (cfg.passwordFile != null) ''
-          export PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD=$(cat "$CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY/PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD")
+          export PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE=$CREDENTIALS_DIRECTORY/PHOTOPRISM_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE
         ''}
         exec ${cfg.package}/bin/photoprism start
       '';