diff --git a/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.cpp b/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.cpp
index e3f7494d1..e3efaebff 100644
--- a/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.cpp
+++ b/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.cpp
@@ -631,43 +631,8 @@ void sftpProtocol::setHost(const TQString& h, int port, const TQString& user, co
   mPassword = pass;
 }
 
-void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
-
-  if (mConnected) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "username=" << mUsername << ", host=" << mHost << ", port=" << mPort << endl;
-
-  infoMessage(i18n("Opening SFTP connection to host %1:%2").arg(mHost).arg(mPort));
-
-  if (mHost.isEmpty()) {
-    kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "openConnection(): Need hostname..." << endl;
-    error(TDEIO::ERR_UNKNOWN_HOST, i18n("No hostname specified."));
-    return;
-  }
-
-  // Setup AuthInfo for use with password caching and the
-  // password dialog box.
-  AuthInfo info = authInfo();
-  info.keepPassword = true; // make the "keep Password" check box visible to the user.
-
-  PasswordPurger pwPurger{mPassword};
-  PasswordPurger infoPurger{info.password};
-
-  // Check for cached authentication info if no password is specified...
-  if (mPassword.isEmpty()) {
-    kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "checking cache: info.username = " << info.username
-      << ", info.url = " << info.url.prettyURL() << endl;
-
-    if (checkCachedAuthentication(info)) {
-      kdDebug() << "using cached" << endl;
-      mUsername = info.username;
-      mPassword = info.password;
-    }
-  }
 
-  // Start the ssh connection.
+int sftpProtocol::initializeConnection() {
   TQString msg;     // msg for dialog box
   TQString caption; // dialog box caption
   unsigned char *hash = NULL; // the server hash
@@ -679,7 +644,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
   mSession = ssh_new();
   if (mSession == NULL) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_INTERNAL, i18n("Could not create a new SSH session."));
-    return;
+    return SSH_ERROR;
   }
 
   kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "Creating the SSH session and setting options" << endl;
@@ -709,23 +674,23 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
   rc = ssh_options_set(mSession, SSH_OPTIONS_HOST, mHost.utf8().data());
   if (rc < 0) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_OUT_OF_MEMORY, i18n("Could not set host."));
-    return;
+    return SSH_ERROR;
   }
 
   if (mPort > 0) {
     rc = ssh_options_set(mSession, SSH_OPTIONS_PORT, &mPort);
     if (rc < 0) {
         error(TDEIO::ERR_OUT_OF_MEMORY, i18n("Could not set port."));
-      return;
+      return SSH_ERROR;
     }
   }
 
   // Set the username
-  if (!info.username.isEmpty()) {
-    rc = ssh_options_set(mSession, SSH_OPTIONS_USER, info.username.utf8().data());
+  if (!mUsername.isEmpty()) {
+    rc = ssh_options_set(mSession, SSH_OPTIONS_USER, mUsername.utf8().data());
     if (rc < 0) {
       error(TDEIO::ERR_OUT_OF_MEMORY, i18n("Could not set username."));
-      return;
+      return rc;
     }
   }
 
@@ -734,7 +699,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
     rc = ssh_options_set(mSession, SSH_OPTIONS_LOG_VERBOSITY_STR, verbosity);
     if (rc < 0) {
       error(TDEIO::ERR_OUT_OF_MEMORY, i18n("Could not set log verbosity."));
-      return;
+      return rc;
     }
   }
 
@@ -742,7 +707,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
   rc = ssh_options_parse_config(mSession, NULL);
   if (rc < 0) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_INTERNAL, i18n("Could not parse the config file."));
-    return;
+    return rc;
   }
 
   ssh_set_callbacks(mSession, mCallbacks);
@@ -754,7 +719,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
   if (rc < 0) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_COULD_NOT_CONNECT, TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession)));
     closeConnection();
-    return;
+    return rc;
   }
 
   kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "Getting the SSH server hash" << endl;
@@ -762,24 +727,26 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
   /* get the hash */
   ssh_key serverKey;
 #if LIBSSH_VERSION_INT < SSH_VERSION_INT(0, 7, 90)
-  if (ssh_get_publickey(mSession, &serverKey) < 0) {
+  rc = ssh_get_publickey(mSession, &serverKey);
 #else
-  if (ssh_get_server_publickey(mSession, &serverKey) < 0) {
+  rc = ssh_get_server_publickey(mSession, &serverKey);
 #endif
+  if (rc<0) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_COULD_NOT_CONNECT, TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession)));
     closeConnection();
-    return;
+    return rc;
   }
 
   size_t hlen;
 #if LIBSSH_VERSION_INT < SSH_VERSION_INT(0, 8, 90)
-  if (ssh_get_publickey_hash(serverKey, SSH_PUBLICKEY_HASH_MD5, &hash, &hlen) < 0) {
+  rc = ssh_get_publickey_hash(serverKey, SSH_PUBLICKEY_HASH_MD5, &hash, &hlen);
 #else
-  if (ssh_get_publickey_hash(serverKey, SSH_PUBLICKEY_HASH_SHA256, &hash, &hlen) < 0) {
+  rc = ssh_get_publickey_hash(serverKey, SSH_PUBLICKEY_HASH_SHA256, &hash, &hlen);
 #endif
+  if (rc<0) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_COULD_NOT_CONNECT, TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession)));
     closeConnection();
-    return;
+    return rc;
   }
 
   kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "Checking if the SSH server is known" << endl;
@@ -801,7 +768,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
             "client into thinking the key does not exist.\n"
             "Please contact your system administrator.\n%1").arg(TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession))));
       closeConnection();
-      return;
+      return SSH_ERROR;
     case TDEIO_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS_CHANGED:
       hexa = ssh_get_hexa(hash, hlen);
       delete hash;
@@ -814,7 +781,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
           mHost).arg(TQString::fromUtf8(hexa)).arg(TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession))));
       delete hexa;
       closeConnection();
-      return;
+      return SSH_ERROR;
     case TDEIO_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS_NOT_FOUND:
     case TDEIO_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS_UNKNOWN:
       hexa = ssh_get_hexa(hash, hlen);
@@ -828,7 +795,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
       if (KMessageBox::Yes != messageBox(WarningYesNo, msg, caption)) {
         closeConnection();
         error(TDEIO::ERR_USER_CANCELED, TQString());
-        return;
+        return SSH_ERROR;
       }
 
       /* write the known_hosts file */
@@ -840,13 +807,13 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
 #endif
         error(TDEIO::ERR_USER_CANCELED, TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession)));
         closeConnection();
-        return;
+        return SSH_ERROR;
       }
       break;
     case TDEIO_SSH_KNOWN_HOSTS_ERROR:
       delete hash;
       error(TDEIO::ERR_COULD_NOT_CONNECT, TQString::fromUtf8(ssh_get_error(mSession)));
-      return;
+      return SSH_ERROR;
   }
 
   kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "Trying to authenticate with the server" << endl;
@@ -858,11 +825,57 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
     rc = ssh_options_get(mSession, SSH_OPTIONS_USER, &ssh_username);
     if (rc == 0 && ssh_username && ssh_username[0]) {
       mUsername = ssh_username;
-      info.username = mUsername;
     }
     ssh_string_free_char(ssh_username);
   }
 
+  return SSH_OK;
+}
+
+
+void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
+
+  if (mConnected) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "username=" << mUsername << ", host=" << mHost << ", port=" << mPort << endl;
+
+  infoMessage(i18n("Opening SFTP connection to host %1:%2").arg(mHost).arg(mPort));
+
+  if (mHost.isEmpty()) {
+    kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "openConnection(): Need hostname..." << endl;
+    error(TDEIO::ERR_UNKNOWN_HOST, i18n("No hostname specified."));
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Setup AuthInfo for use with password caching and the
+  // password dialog box.
+  AuthInfo info = authInfo();
+  info.keepPassword = true; // make the "keep Password" check box visible to the user.
+
+  PasswordPurger pwPurger{mPassword};
+  PasswordPurger infoPurger{info.password};
+
+  // Check for cached authentication info if no password is specified...
+  if (mPassword.isEmpty()) {
+    kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "checking cache: info.username = " << info.username
+      << ", info.url = " << info.url.prettyURL() << endl;
+
+    if (checkCachedAuthentication(info)) {
+      kdDebug() << "using cached" << endl;
+      mUsername = info.username;
+      mPassword = info.password;
+    }
+  }
+
+  int rc;
+
+  // Start the ssh connection.
+  if (initializeConnection() < 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Try to authenticate
   rc = ssh_userauth_none(mSession, NULL);
   if (rc == SSH_AUTH_ERROR) {
@@ -873,8 +886,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
   }
 
   int method = ssh_auth_list(mSession);
-  if (!method && rc != SSH_AUTH_SUCCESS)
-  {
+  if (!method && rc != SSH_AUTH_SUCCESS) {
     error(TDEIO::ERR_COULD_NOT_LOGIN, i18n("Authentication failed."
           " The server did not send any authentication methods!"));
     return;
@@ -896,8 +908,7 @@ void sftpProtocol::openConnection() {
 
       kdDebug(TDEIO_SFTP_DB) << "Trying to authenticate with public key" << endl;
       bool keepTryingPasskey=true;
-      while(keepTryingPasskey)
-      {
+      while (keepTryingPasskey) {
         mPubKeyAuthData.wasCalled = 0;
         rc = ssh_userauth_publickey_auto(mSession, nullptr, nullptr);
 
diff --git a/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.h b/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.h
index 2ad069ea7..68c8a0020 100644
--- a/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.h
+++ b/tdeioslave/sftp/tdeio_sftp.h
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ private: // private methods
   /** A small helper function to construct auth info skeleton for the protocol */
   TDEIO::AuthInfo authInfo();
 
+  /** A helper function encapsulating creation of an ssh connection before authentication */
+  int initializeConnection();
+
   void reportError(const KURL &url, const int err);
 
   bool createUDSEntry(const TQString &filename, const TQByteArray &path,