diff --git a/lcdproc/server.py b/lcdproc/server.py
index 0194570..6eb5785 100644
--- a/lcdproc/server.py
+++ b/lcdproc/server.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def add_key(self, ref, mode = "shared"):
         Return key name or None on error
         """
         if ref not in self.keys:   
-            response = self.request("client_add_key %s -%s" % (ref, mode))
+            response = self.request("client_add_key -%s %s" % (mode, ref))
             if "success" not in response: return None
             self.keys.append(ref)
             return ref