diff --git a/deploy/cpanel_uapi.sh b/deploy/cpanel_uapi.sh
index 053a0c92..01cb94ee 100644
--- a/deploy/cpanel_uapi.sh
+++ b/deploy/cpanel_uapi.sh
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ cpanel_uapi_deploy() {
     return 1
   fi
   # read cert and key files and urlencode both
-  _cert=$(cat "$_ccert" | _url_encode)
-  _key=$(cat "$_ckey" | _url_encode)
+  _cert=$(_url_encode < "$_ccert")
+  _key=$(_url_encode < "$_ckey")
 
   _debug _cert "$_cert"
   _debug _key "$_key"