diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
index a53e7870..80929e45 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml
@@ -38,11 +38,17 @@ jobs:
         env:
           SSH_HOST: ${{ secrets.SSH_HOST }}
           SSH_USER: ${{ secrets.SSH_USER }}
-          SSH_KEY: ${{ secrets.SSH_KEY }}
+          SSH_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.SSH_PRIVATE_KEY }}
         run: |
-          echo "$SSH_KEY" > /tmp/ssh_key
+          # Validate required secrets
+          if [ -z "$SSH_HOST" ] || [ -z "$SSH_USER" ] || [ -z "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY" ]; then
+            echo "❌ Missing required secrets: SSH_HOST, SSH_USER, or SSH_PRIVATE_KEY"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "$SSH_PRIVATE_KEY" > /tmp/ssh_key
           chmod 600 /tmp/ssh_key
-          
+
           ssh -i /tmp/ssh_key -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no $SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST << EOF
             set -e
             cd /home/deploy/michaelschiemer/current