diff --git a/nixos/tests/nebula.nix b/nixos/tests/nebula.nix
index 6c468153d5b2..124be2332196 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/nebula.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/nebula.nix
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ in
       ${name}.start()
       ${name}.succeed(
           "mkdir -p /root/.ssh",
-          "chown 700 /root/.ssh",
+          "chmod 700 /root/.ssh",
           "cat '${snakeOilPrivateKey}' > /root/.ssh/id_snakeoil",
-          "chown 600 /root/.ssh/id_snakeoil",
+          "chmod 600 /root/.ssh/id_snakeoil",
           "mkdir -p /root"
       )
     '';