diff --git a/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml b/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml
index a7da3d5773..40f0c3f381 100644
--- a/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/zuul/run-base.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 - import_playbook: ../install-ansible.yaml
   vars:
-    root_rsa_key: "{{ lookup('file', zuul.executor.work_root + '/' + zuul.build + '_id_rsa') }}"
+    root_rsa_key: "{{ lookup('file', zuul.executor.work_root + '/' + zuul.build + '_id_rsa', rstrip=False) }}"
     ansible_cron_disable_job: true
     cloud_launcher_disable_job: true