diff --git a/molecule/os_hardening/verify_tasks/ssh_auth_locked.yml b/molecule/os_hardening/verify_tasks/ssh_auth_locked.yml
index ba79fc35..d34969c6 100644
--- a/molecule/os_hardening/verify_tasks/ssh_auth_locked.yml
+++ b/molecule/os_hardening/verify_tasks/ssh_auth_locked.yml
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@
   ansible.builtin.service:
     name: sshd
     state: started
+  ignore_errors: true
+
+- name: Start ssh service
+  ansible.builtin.service:
+    name: ssh
+    state: started
+  ignore_errors: true
 
 - name: Set password for test
   ansible.builtin.set_fact:
@@ -37,11 +44,11 @@
 
 - name: Check successful login with password
   ansible.builtin.shell:
-    cmd: sshpass -p {{ test_pw }} ssh locked_user@localhost echo "success"
+    cmd: sshpass -p {{ test_pw }} ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no locked_user@localhost echo "success"
 
 - name: Check successful login with ssh key
   ansible.builtin.shell:
-    cmd: ssh -i /root/locked_user_id locked_user@localhost echo "success"
+    cmd: ssh -i /root/locked_user_id -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no locked_user@localhost echo "success"
 
 - name: Set password change date for locked_user
   ansible.builtin.shell:
@@ -49,7 +56,7 @@
 
 - name: Check unsuccessful login with password
   ansible.builtin.shell:
-    cmd: sshpass -p {{ test_pw }} ssh locked_user@localhost echo "success"
+    cmd: sshpass -p {{ test_pw }} ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no locked_user@localhost echo "success"
   register: output
   ignore_errors: true
 
@@ -62,4 +69,4 @@
 
 - name: Check successful login with ssh key
   ansible.builtin.shell:
-    cmd: ssh -i /root/locked_user_id locked_user@localhost echo "success"
+    cmd: ssh -i /root/locked_user_id -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no locked_user@localhost echo "success"