diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index e68762a..af906b0 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -67,14 +67,16 @@ func generateSelfPeer() error {
 	}
 	// check if peer already exists
 	p := oclib.Search(nil, strconv.Itoa(peer.SELF.EnumIndex()), oclib.LibDataEnum(oclib.PEER))
+	file := ""
 	if len(p.Data) > 0 {
 		// check public key with the one in the database
 		f, err := os.ReadFile(conf.GetConfig().PublicKeyPath)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+		file = string(f)
 		// compare the public key from file with the one in the database
-		if !strings.Contains(string(f), p.Data[0].(*peer.Peer).PublicKey) {
+		if !strings.Contains(file, p.Data[0].(*peer.Peer).PublicKey) {
 			return errors.New("public key is different from the one in the database")
 		}
 		return nil
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ func generateSelfPeer() error {
 		AbstractObject: utils.AbstractObject{
 			Name: o.GetStringDefault("NAME", "local"),
 		},
-		PublicKey: conf.GetConfig().PublicKeyPath,
+		PublicKey: file,
 		State:     peer.SELF,
 	}
 	data := oclib.StoreOne(oclib.LibDataEnum(oclib.PEER), peer.Serialize())