diff --git a/sefaria/local_settings.py b/sefaria/local_settings.py
index bddf465964..4ddb882c80 100644
--- a/sefaria/local_settings.py
+++ b/sefaria/local_settings.py
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@
   "type": "service_account",
   "project_id": os.getenv("project_id"),
   "private_key_id": os.getenv("private_key_id"),
-  "private_key": os.getenv("private_key").replace('\\\\n', '\\n'),
+  "private_key": os.getenv("private_key").replace('\\\\n', '\n'),
   "client_email": os.getenv("client_email"),
   "client_id": os.getenv("client_id"),
   "auth_uri": "https://accounts.google.com/o/oauth2/auth",