--- /sys/src/cmd/ssh2/netssh.c
+++ /sys/src/cmd/ssh2/netssh.c
@@ -2875,7 +2875,6 @@
 	char *alg, char *blob, char *sig, char *service, char *me)
 {
 	int n, thisway, nblob, nsig;
-	char method[32];
 
 	sshdebug(c, "auth_req publickey for user %s", user);
 	thisway = *q == '\0';
@@ -2912,12 +2911,12 @@
 	add_byte(p2, SSH_MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST);
 	add_string(p2, user);
 	add_string(p2, service);
-	add_string(p2, method);
+	add_string(p2, "publickey");
 	add_byte(p2, 1);
 	add_string(p2, alg);
 	add_block(p2, blob, nblob);
 	if (pkas[n]->verify(c, p2->payload, p2->rlength - 1, user, sig, nsig)
-	    == 0) {
+	    != 1) {
 		init_packet(p2);
 		p2->c = c;
 		sshlog(c, "public key login failed");