diff --git a/test/stream/api/api_test.go b/test/stream/api/api_test.go
index 0dae0f2223..3f4d6b69d8 100644
--- a/test/stream/api/api_test.go
+++ b/test/stream/api/api_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package api
 import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ func TestStreamApiE2E(t *testing.T) {
 				"STREAM_ETCD_USERNAME":                             etcdCfg.Username,
 				"STREAM_ETCD_PASSWORD":                             etcdCfg.Password,
 				"STREAM_ENCRYPTION_PROVIDER":                       "native",
-				"STREAM_ENCRYPTION_NATIVE_SECRET_KEY":              string(secretKey),
+				"STREAM_ENCRYPTION_NATIVE_SECRET_KEY":              base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(secretKey),
 			})
 
 			// Run the test