diff --git a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
index fe68b4cd8..fd710c2b6 100644
--- a/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
+++ b/src/build-remote/build-remote.cc
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ int main (int argc, char * * argv)
                 lock = -1;
 
                 try {
-                    sshStore = openStore("ssh://" + bestMachine->hostName + "?key=" + bestMachine->sshKey);
+                    sshStore = openStore("ssh://" + bestMachine->hostName + "?ssh-key=" + bestMachine->sshKey);
                     hostName = bestMachine->hostName;
                 } catch (std::exception & e) {
                     printError("unable to open SSH connection to ‘%s’: %s; trying other available machines...",