diff --git a/pkg/object/sftp.go b/pkg/object/sftp.go
index 4ad254188395..d99fcb12606e 100644
--- a/pkg/object/sftp.go
+++ b/pkg/object/sftp.go
@@ -452,10 +452,7 @@ func newSftp(endpoint, username, pass, token string) (ObjectStorage, error) {
 	username = unescape(username)
 	var auth []ssh.AuthMethod
 	if pass != "" {
-		pass = unescape(pass)
-		auth = append(auth, ssh.Password(pass))
-	} else {
-		auth = append(auth, ssh.KeyboardInteractive(sshInteractive))
+		auth = append(auth, ssh.Password(unescape(pass)))
 	}
 
 	var signers []ssh.Signer
@@ -506,6 +503,10 @@ func newSftp(endpoint, username, pass, token string) (ObjectStorage, error) {
 		auth = append(auth, ssh.PublicKeys(signers...))
 	}
 
+	if pass == "" {
+		auth = append(auth, ssh.KeyboardInteractive(sshInteractive))
+	}
+
 	config := &ssh.ClientConfig{
 		User:            username,
 		HostKeyCallback: ssh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),