diff --git a/python/python/lancedb/embeddings/openai.py b/python/python/lancedb/embeddings/openai.py
index b87faa73..7da8f2c3 100644
--- a/python/python/lancedb/embeddings/openai.py
+++ b/python/python/lancedb/embeddings/openai.py
@@ -113,5 +113,5 @@ class OpenAIEmbeddings(TextEmbeddingFunction):
         if self.organization:
             kwargs["organization"] = self.organization
         if self.api_key:
-            kwargs["api_key"] = self
+            kwargs["api_key"] = self.api_key
         return openai.OpenAI(**kwargs)