diff --git a/borgmatic_setup.sh b/borgmatic_setup.sh
index d55371d..2faa0af 100755
--- a/borgmatic_setup.sh
+++ b/borgmatic_setup.sh
@@ -675,18 +675,18 @@ if ! inf_follow "Checking for default ssh key at $SSH_KEY_FILE..." "\e[1;32mYes\
     fi
 fi
 
+# ask for ssh password if none is set
+if [ -z "$SSH_PASSWORD" ]; then
+    wrn "Please enter the password for the ssh key to copy it to the backup server."
+    wrn "This is required to enable passwordless ssh login for backups."
+
+    read -s -p "Password: " SSH_PASSWORD
+    echo ""
+fi
+
 # check first if ssh key is already present on the remote end
 if ! inf_follow "Checking if ssh key is already present on $SSH_HOST..." "\e[1;32mYes\e[0m" "\e[1;31mNo\e[0m" run_command ssh -oStrictHostKeyChecking=no -oBatchMode=yes -i "$SSH_KEY_FILE" -p "$SSH_PORT" -l "$SSH_USER" "$SSH_HOST" exit; then
-    # ask for ssh password if none is set
-    if [ -z "$SSH_PASSWORD" ]; then
-        wrn "Please enter the password for the ssh key to copy it to the backup server."
-        wrn "This is required to enable passwordless ssh login for backups."
-
-        read -s -p "Password: " SSH_PASSWORD
-        echo ""
-    fi
-
-    if ! inf_follow "Copying ssh key to $SSH_HOST..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" run_command sudo sshpass -p "$SSH_PASSWORD" ssh -oStrictHostKeyChecking=no -oBatchMode=yes -p "$SSH_PORT" "$SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST" 'mkdir -p .ssh && cat >> .ssh/authorized_keys' < "$SSH_KEY_FILE"; then
+    if ! inf_follow "Copying ssh key to $SSH_HOST..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" run_command sshpass -p "$SSH_PASSWORD" ssh -oStrictHostKeyChecking=no -oBatchMode=yes -p "$SSH_PORT" "$SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST" 'mkdir -p .ssh && cat >> .ssh/authorized_keys' < "$SSH_KEY_FILE"; then
         err "Failed to copy ssh key to $SSH_HOST."
         err "Please validate your ssh password and and host settings and try again."
         err "If the error persists, please contact the support at $SCRIPT_SUPPORT."