diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 1beb46f..ed5980b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: install ssh keys
       # check this thread to understand why its needed:
       # https://stackoverflow.com/a/70447517
-      run: echo "${{ secrets.SSH_PRIVATE_KEY }}" > ~/.ssh/id_rsa && ssh-keyscan -H ${{ secrets.SSH_HOST }}
+      run: touch ~/.ssh/id_rsa && echo "${{ secrets.SSH_PRIVATE_KEY }}" > ~/.ssh/id_rsa && ssh-keyscan -H ${{ secrets.SSH_HOST }}
     - name: connect and pull
       run: echo "${{ secrets.SSH_USER }}"
     - name: cleanup