diff --git a/cdist/conf/type/__ssh_authorized_keys/manifest b/cdist/conf/type/__ssh_authorized_keys/manifest
index f6ff74c3..8d702875 100755
--- a/cdist/conf/type/__ssh_authorized_keys/manifest
+++ b/cdist/conf/type/__ssh_authorized_keys/manifest
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ while read -r key; do
    set -- "$@" --key "$key"
    set -- "$@" --state "$state"
    if [ -f "$__object/parameter/option" ]; then
-      set -- "$@" --option "$(cat "$__object/parameter/option")"
+      set -- "$@" $(printf -- '--option %s ' $(cat "$__object/parameter/option"))
    fi
    if [ -f "$__object/parameter/comment" ]; then
       set -- "$@" --comment "$(cat "$__object/parameter/comment")"