diff --git a/signup/signup-handler.php b/signup/signup-handler.php
index ad17f8d..f01a281 100644
--- a/signup/signup-handler.php
+++ b/signup/signup-handler.php
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ if (isset($_REQUEST["username"]) && isset($_REQUEST["email"])) {
         $message .= "<li>please explain why you're interested so we can make sure you're a real human being</li>";
 
     $sshkey = trim($_REQUEST["sshkey"]);
-    if ($sshkey == "" || mb_substr($sshkey, 0, 4) !== "ssh-")
+    if ($sshkey == "" || (mb_substr($sshkey, 0, 4) !== "ssh-" && mb_substr($sshkey, 0, 11) !== "ecdsa-sha2-"))
         $message .= '<li>ssh key required: please create one and submit the public key. '
             . 'see our <a href="https://tilde.team/wiki/?page=ssh">ssh wiki</a> or '
             . 'hop on <a href="https://web.tilde.chat/?join=team">irc</a> and ask for help</li>';