diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitSshd.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitSshd.java
index 0cc30f8f4c..68bdefc6c5 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitSshd.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/pgm/init/InitSshd.java
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public class InitSshd implements InitStep {
                 "-q" /* quiet */,
                 "-t",
                 "rsa",
-                "-P",
+                "-N",
                 emptyPassphraseArg,
                 "-C",
                 comment,