diff --git a/library/proxmox_storage.py b/library/proxmox_storage.py
index d213ee1..01f4a95 100755
--- a/library/proxmox_storage.py
+++ b/library/proxmox_storage.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@
 import ansible.module_utils.pvesh as pvesh
 import re
 import json
-from json import JSONDecodeError, loads as parse_json
+from json import JSONDecodeError, loads as parse_json, dumps as to_json
 
 
 class ProxmoxStorage(object):
@@ -355,6 +355,8 @@ def __init__(self, module):
                                           "'backup' content type.")
             try:
                 if self.encryption_key not in ["autogen", None]:
+                    if isinstance(self.encryption_key, dict):
+                        self.encryption_key = to_json(self.encryption_key)
                     parse_json(self.encryption_key)
             except JSONDecodeError:
                 self.module.fail_json(msg=("encryption_key needs to be valid "
@@ -578,7 +580,7 @@ def main():
                            "zfspool", "btrfs", "pbs", "cifs"]),
         # Remaining PVE API arguments (depending on type) past this point
         datastore=dict(default=None, type='str', required=False),
-        encryption_key=dict(default=None, type='str', required=False, no_log=True),
+        encryption_key=dict(default=None, type='raw', required=False, no_log=True),
         fingerprint=dict(default=None, type='str', required=False),
         master_pubkey=dict(default=None, type='str', required=False),
         password=dict(default=None, type='str', required=False, no_log=True),