diff --git a/controllers/nginx/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl b/controllers/nginx/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl
index a8c62ec34..fbb023f1b 100644
--- a/controllers/nginx/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl
+++ b/controllers/nginx/rootfs/etc/nginx/template/nginx.tmpl
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ stream {
             {{ end }}
 
             {{ if not (empty $location.ExternalAuth.SigninURL) }}
-            error_page 401 = $location.ExternalAuth.SigninURL;
+            error_page 401 = {{ $location.ExternalAuth.SigninURL }};
             {{ end }}
 
             {{/* if the location contains a rate limit annotation, create one */}}