diff --git a/local-app/tf-directory-setup/remote_state.backend.tf.j2 b/local-app/tf-directory-setup/remote_state.backend.tf.j2
index 099fca93..74231e7b 100644
--- a/local-app/tf-directory-setup/remote_state.backend.tf.j2
+++ b/local-app/tf-directory-setup/remote_state.backend.tf.j2
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ terraform {
   backend "s3" {
     profile        = "{{ data.profile }}"
     bucket         = "{{ data.bucket }}"
+{% if s3key.startswith('/') %}
+    key            = "{{ s3key | replace('/','',1) }}"
+{% else %}
     key            = "{{ s3key }}"
+{% endif %}
     region         = "{{ data.bucket_region }}"
 {% if data.use_lockfile is defined and not data.use_lockfile %}
     dynamodb_table = "{{ data.table_name | default('tf_remote_state') }}"