diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7edff91..6aa32a3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Defaults (config/overwrite required):
   ips
 
 Required for SSH:
-- `monitored_ssh_key_files` (defaults: `[]`): list(!) of SSH key strings(!)
+- `monitored_ssh_key_files` (defaults: `[]`): list(!) of SSH key strings or filenames (ending with `.pub`)
 
 Common variables:
 - `monitored_packages_install` (defaults: `true`): install plugings
diff --git a/tasks/ssh.yml b/tasks/ssh.yml
index 3c1450d..1687b22 100644
--- a/tasks/ssh.yml
+++ b/tasks/ssh.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 - name: Copy SSH authorized_keys for monitoring user
   authorized_key:
     user: "{{ monitored_user }}"
-    key: "{{ lookup('file', item) }}"
+    key: "{{ lookup('template', 'ssh-key.j2') }}"
     key_options: '{{ lookup("template", "ssh-key-options.j2") }}'
     manage_dir: yes
   loop: "{{ monitored_ssh_key_files }}"
diff --git a/templates/ssh-key.j2 b/templates/ssh-key.j2
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..54ddf14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/ssh-key.j2
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{% if item.endswith('.pub') %}{{ lookup('file', item) }}{% else %}{{ item }}{% endif %}