diff --git a/osm_nbi/base_topic.py b/osm_nbi/base_topic.py
index 252a72a622281f6e4a128c38de1770163717aeb6..35514a56b295bfcaf449021d12cad58165cda87c 100644
--- a/osm_nbi/base_topic.py
+++ b/osm_nbi/base_topic.py
@@ -1018,7 +1018,7 @@ class BaseTopic:
     def _generate_age_key(self):
         ident = x25519.Identity.generate()
         # gets the public key
-        pubkey = ident.to_public()
+        pubkey = str(ident.to_public())
         # gets the private key
         privkey = str(ident)
         # return both public and private key