diff --git a/tests/sshserver.pl b/tests/sshserver.pl
index 22b83c945..af618529d 100644
--- a/tests/sshserver.pl
+++ b/tests/sshserver.pl
@@ -375,6 +375,16 @@ if((! -e $hstprvkeyf) || (! -e $hstpubkeyf) ||
 #  [3] Option not used in our ssh server config file
 
 
+#***************************************************************************
+# Increased loglevel to debug autobuild's publickey authentication
+# failures when using OpenSSH 2.9.9 or SunSSH
+#
+if((($sshdid =~ /OpenSSH/) && ($sshvernum == 299)) ||
+    ($sshdid =~ /SunSSH/)) {
+    $loglevel = 'DEBUG3';
+}
+
+
 #***************************************************************************
 # Initialize sshd config with options actually supported in OpenSSH 2.9.9
 #