diff --git a/lib/tempest b/lib/tempest
index 61351c0628..ecc48650f8 100644
--- a/lib/tempest
+++ b/lib/tempest
@@ -329,6 +329,9 @@ function configure_tempest {
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute flavor_ref $flavor_ref
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute flavor_ref_alt $flavor_ref_alt
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute ssh_connect_method $ssh_connect_method
+    # set the equiv validation option here as well to ensure they are
+    # in sync. They shouldn't be separate options.
+    iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG validation connect_method $ssh_connect_method
     if [[ ! $(is_service_enabled n-cell) && ! $(is_service_enabled neutron) ]]; then
         iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG compute fixed_network_name $PRIVATE_NETWORK_NAME
     fi