diff --git a/borgmatic_setup.sh b/borgmatic_setup.sh
index 6b41107..0733868 100755
--- a/borgmatic_setup.sh
+++ b/borgmatic_setup.sh
@@ -675,18 +675,12 @@ 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 -r -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
-    if ! inf_follow "Copying ssh key to $SSH_HOST..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" run_command bash -c "sshpass -p '$SSH_PASSWORD' ssh -oStrictHostKeyChecking=no -oBatchMode=yes -p '$SSH_PORT' '$SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST' 'mkdir -p .ssh && cat >> .ssh/authorized_keys' < <(cat '$SSH_KEY_FILE')"; 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."
+    
+    if ! inf_follow "Copying ssh key to $SSH_HOST..." "\e[1;32mOK\e[0m" "\e[1;31mFAILED\e[0m" run_command ssh-copy-id -oStrictHostKeyChecking=no -oBatchMode=no -i "$SSH_KEY_FILE.pub" -p "$SSH_PORT" "$SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST"; 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."