diff --git a/class/core/firewall_api.py b/class/core/firewall_api.py
index 2b48e993d..9b7e91d0b 100755
--- a/class/core/firewall_api.py
+++ b/class/core/firewall_api.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class firewall_api:
         conf = mw.readFile(file)
 
         if status == '1':
-            rep = "PasswordAuthentication\s+(\w*)\s*\n"
+            rep = "(#)PasswordAuthentication\s+(\w*)\s*\n"
             conf = re.sub(rep, "PasswordAuthentication yes\n", conf)
         else:
             rep = "(#)PasswordAuthentication\s+(\w*)\s*\n"