diff --git a/smardigo/templates/connect/secret.yml b/smardigo/templates/connect/secret.yml
index 385ceb6..01731dc 100644
--- a/smardigo/templates/connect/secret.yml
+++ b/smardigo/templates/connect/secret.yml
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ data:
 
  # check, if a secret is already set
   {{- if or (not $old_sec) (not $old_sec.data) }}
-  {{- if (index $old_sec.data "JWT_SECRET") }}
+  {{- if ($old_sec.data.JWT_SECRET) }}
   # if set, then use the old value
-  JWT_SECRET: {{ index $old_sec.data "JWT_SECRET" }}  
+  JWT_SECRET: {{ index $old_sec.data "JWT_SECRET" }}
   {{ else }}
   # if not set, then generate a new password
   JWT_SECRET: {{ randAlphaNum 32 | b64enc }}