diff --git a/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf b/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf
index 68d3868a560..b45505a1988 100644
--- a/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf
+++ b/examples/eks_managed_node_group/main.tf
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ module "eks" {
         }
       ]
 
+      remote_access = {
+        ec2_ssh_key = "my-ssh-key"
+      }
+
       update_config = {
         max_unavailable_percentage = 50 # or set `max_unavailable`
       }
diff --git a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf
index e70e93a239a..f5af5845ecc 100644
--- a/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf
+++ b/modules/eks-managed-node-group/main.tf
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ resource "aws_eks_node_group" "this" {
   }
 
   dynamic "remote_access" {
-    for_each = var.remote_access
+    for_each = length(var.remote_access) > 0 ? [var.remote_access] : []
     content {
       ec2_ssh_key               = lookup(remote_access.value, "ec2_ssh_key", null)
       source_security_group_ids = lookup(remote_access.value, "source_security_group_ids", [])