diff --git a/modules/cloud-config-container/cos-generic-metadata/cloud-config.yaml b/modules/cloud-config-container/cos-generic-metadata/cloud-config.yaml
index 9ffff4a58c..d34833635f 100644
--- a/modules/cloud-config-container/cos-generic-metadata/cloud-config.yaml
+++ b/modules/cloud-config-container/cos-generic-metadata/cloud-config.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ users:
 
 write_files:
   - path: /var/lib/docker/daemon.json
-    permissions: 0644
+    permissions: "0644"
     owner: root
     content: |
       {
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ write_files:
       }
   # ${container_name} container service
   - path: /etc/systemd/system/${container_name}.service
-    permissions: 0644
+    permissions: "0644"
     owner: root
     content: |
       [Unit]