diff --git a/client/core/sshclient.cpp b/client/core/sshclient.cpp
index 4c2a9591..4e557645 100644
--- a/client/core/sshclient.cpp
+++ b/client/core/sshclient.cpp
@@ -352,16 +352,18 @@ namespace libssh {
         m_passphraseCallback = passphraseCallback;
         authResult = ssh_pki_import_privkey_base64(credentials.password.toStdString().c_str(), nullptr, callback, nullptr, &privateKey);
         if (authResult == SSH_OK) {
-            char* key = new char[65535];
+            char *b64 = nullptr;
 
-            authResult = ssh_pki_export_privkey_base64(privateKey, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, &key);
-            decryptedPrivateKey = key;
-            delete[] key;
+            authResult = ssh_pki_export_privkey_base64(privateKey, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, &b64);
+            decryptedPrivateKey = QString(b64);
 
             if (authResult != SSH_OK) {
                 qDebug() << "failed to export private key";
                 errorCode = ErrorCode::InternalError;
             }
+            else {
+                ssh_string_free_char(b64);
+            }
         } else {
             errorCode = ErrorCode::SshPrivateKeyError;
         }