diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSA.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSA.php
index 87072299d6d31..ea3aad4396239 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSA.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSA.php
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public function manipulateStorageConfig(StorageConfig &$storage, ?IUser $user =
 				throw new \RuntimeException('unable to load private key');
 			}
 		}
+		$auth->setPassword('');
 		$storage->setBackendOption('public_key_auth', $auth);
 	}
 
diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSAPrivateKey.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSAPrivateKey.php
index 8c2e2f3d6ecfc..28530af8fb81c 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSAPrivateKey.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/PublicKey/RSAPrivateKey.php
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ public function manipulateStorageConfig(StorageConfig &$storage, ?IUser $user =
 				throw new \RuntimeException('unable to load private key');
 			}
 		}
+
+		$auth->setPassword('');
 		$storage->setBackendOption('public_key_auth', $auth);
 	}
 }