diff --git a/nixos/tests/systemd-journal-gateway.nix b/nixos/tests/systemd-journal-gateway.nix
index 1b7428590a4a..6ae009f5362c 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/systemd-journal-gateway.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/systemd-journal-gateway.nix
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix (
 
       def copy_pem(file: str):
         machine.copy_from_host(source=f"{tmpdir}/{file}", target=f"/run/secrets/{file}")
-        machine.succeed(f"chmod 644 /run/secrets/{file}")
+        machine.succeed(f"chmod 600 /run/secrets/{file} && chown systemd-journal-gateway /run/secrets/{file}")
 
       with subtest("Copying keys and certificates"):
         machine.succeed("mkdir -p /run/secrets/{client,server}")