diff --git a/profiles/cardano-node.nix b/profiles/cardano-node.nix
index ba29e74..3af4472 100644
--- a/profiles/cardano-node.nix
+++ b/profiles/cardano-node.nix
@@ -39,6 +39,24 @@ in {
     };
   };
 
+  systemd = {
+    services = {
+      cardano-node = {
+        # Ensure cardano-node starts after nixops keys are loaded
+        after = [
+          "cardano-kes-key.service"
+          "cardano-opcert-key.service"
+          "cardano-vrf-key.service"
+        ];
+        wants = [
+          "cardano-kes-key.service"
+          "cardano-opcert-key.service"
+          "cardano-vrf-key.service"
+        ];
+      };
+    };
+  };
+
   networking = {
     firewall = {
       allowedTCPPorts = [