diff --git a/borghelper.sh b/borghelper.sh
index 7c52c40..ed13a27 100755
--- a/borghelper.sh
+++ b/borghelper.sh
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ done
 
 ### process 'makevars' operation
 if [ "$operation" = 'makevars' ]; then
-    if ! printf "sshKeyFile=\nborgBaseDir=\nborgRepo=\nborgRepoPassword=\nborgRemote=\n" > ./sample.borgvars; then
+    if ! printf "sshKeyFile=\nborgBaseDir=\nborgRepo=\nborgRepoPassword=\nborgRepoKey=\nborgRemote=\n" > ./sample.borgvars; then
         consoleError 4 'Could not write sample borgvars file.'
     else
         exit 0
@@ -344,6 +344,11 @@ else
     consoleError 2 "$varsFile: 'borgRepoPassword' must be specified or must be 'none' if no password has been set (VERY INSECURE!)."
 fi
 
+# check borg keyfile if supplied
+if [ -n "${borgRepoKey}" ]; then
+    export BORG_KEY_FILE="${borgRepoKey}"
+fi
+
 # export borg remote path, if specified
 if [ -n "${borgRemote}" ]; then export BORG_REMOTE_PATH="${borgRemote}"; fi