diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/clients.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/clients.py
index 2855a7a..053e5ea 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/clients.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/api/clients.py
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@
         self.interfaces_client = interfaces_client.InterfacesClient(
             self.auth_provider, **params)
         self.keypairs_client = keypairs_client.KeyPairsClient(
-            self.auth_provider, **params)
+            self.auth_provider, ssh_key_type=CONF.validation.ssh_key_type,
+            **params)
         self.hv_client = hypervisor_client.HypervisorClient(
             self.auth_provider, **params)
         self.az_client = availability_zone_client.AvailabilityZoneClient(
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py
index 8334521..4cb1474 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@
             host=host, username=username, password=password, timeout=timeout,
             pkey=pkey, channel_timeout=channel_timeout,
             look_for_keys=look_for_keys, key_filename=key_filename, port=port,
-            proxy_client=proxy_client)
+            proxy_client=proxy_client,
+            ssh_key_type=CONF.validation.ssh_key_type)
 
     @classmethod
     def create_proxy_client(cls, look_for_keys=True, **kwargs):
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/fwaas/scenario/fwaas_v2_base.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/fwaas/scenario/fwaas_v2_base.py
index 00cdf2c..f8eb44c 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/fwaas/scenario/fwaas_v2_base.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/fwaas/scenario/fwaas_v2_base.py
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
             try:
                 client = ssh.Client(ip_address, username, pkey=private_key,
                                     channel_timeout=connect_timeout,
+                                    ssh_key_type=CONF.validation.ssh_key_type,
                                     **kwargs)
                 client.test_connection_auth()
                 self.assertTrue(should_connect, "Unexpectedly reachable")
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/neutron_dynamic_routing/scenario/test_simple_bgp.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/neutron_dynamic_routing/scenario/test_simple_bgp.py
index 85cc810..3ec231e 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/neutron_dynamic_routing/scenario/test_simple_bgp.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/neutron_dynamic_routing/scenario/test_simple_bgp.py
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@
         left_server = self._create_server()
         ssh_client = ssh.Client(left_server['fip']['floating_ip_address'],
                                 CONF.validation.image_ssh_user,
-                                pkey=self.keypair['private_key'])
+                                pkey=self.keypair['private_key'],
+                                ssh_key_type=CONF.validation.ssh_key_type)
 
         # check LEFT -> RIGHT connectivity via BGP advertised routes
         self.check_remote_connectivity(
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/vpnaas/scenario/test_vpnaas.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/vpnaas/scenario/test_vpnaas.py
index 1a51198..92eed9e 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/vpnaas/scenario/test_vpnaas.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/vpnaas/scenario/test_vpnaas.py
@@ -233,7 +233,8 @@
         left_server = self._create_server()
         ssh_client = ssh.Client(left_server['fip']['floating_ip_address'],
                                 CONF.validation.image_ssh_user,
-                                pkey=self.keypair['private_key'])
+                                pkey=self.keypair['private_key'],
+                                ssh_key_type=CONF.validation.ssh_key_type)
 
         # check LEFT -> RIGHT connectivity via VPN
         self.check_remote_connectivity(ssh_client, right_ip,