diff --git a/docker-compose/start.sh b/docker-compose/start.sh
index 51d18ea4..f78f9dea 100755
--- a/docker-compose/start.sh
+++ b/docker-compose/start.sh
@@ -30,9 +30,11 @@ echo "Crossbar started"
 
 # ssh-key to connect to workers
 if [[ $1 == "master-libvirt" ]]; then
-  mkdir /root/.ssh
-  cp id_ed25519 /root/.ssh
-  cp known_hosts /root/.ssh
+  [[ -d /root/.ssh ]] || {
+    mkdir /root/.ssh
+    cp id_ed25519 /root/.ssh
+    cp known_hosts /root/.ssh
+  }
 fi
 
 # loop for debug