diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/misc/radicle.nix b/nixos/modules/services/misc/radicle.nix
index 7d7804c6eadd..3a393bf0f1f2 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/misc/radicle.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/misc/radicle.nix
@@ -119,7 +119,8 @@ in
       enable = mkEnableOption "Radicle Seed Node";
       package = mkPackageOption pkgs "radicle-node" { };
       privateKeyFile = mkOption {
-        type = types.path;
+        # Note that a key encrypted by systemd-creds is not a path but a str.
+        type = with types; either path str;
         description = ''
           Absolute file path to an SSH private key,
           usually generated by `rad auth`.