diff --git a/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py b/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
index a4d09a5de..5caef714e 100644
--- a/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
+++ b/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
@@ -1219,6 +1219,13 @@ def __init__(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
             *OPTIONAL* To disable public key authentication.
             default is ``None``.
 
+        :param bool allow_agent:
+            *OPTIONAL* If ``True`` then the SSH config file is not parsed by PyEZ
+            and passed down to ncclient. If ``False`` then the SSH config file will
+            be parsed by PyEZ. If option is not provided will fallback to default
+            behavior. This option is passed down to the ncclient as is, if it is
+            present in the kwargs.
+            default is ``False``.
         """
 
         # ----------------------------------------
@@ -1237,6 +1244,7 @@ def __init__(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
         self._huge_tree = kvargs.get("huge_tree", False)
         self._conn_open_timeout = kvargs.get("conn_open_timeout", 30)
         self._look_for_keys = kvargs.get("look_for_keys", None)
+        self._allow_agent = kvargs.get('allow_agent', False)
         if self._fact_style != "new":
             warnings.warn(
                 "fact-style %s will be removed in a future "
@@ -1273,9 +1281,12 @@ def __init__(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
             self._auth_user = (
                 kvargs.get("user") or self._conf_auth_user or self._auth_user
             )
-            self._ssh_private_key_file = (
-                kvargs.get("ssh_private_key_file") or self._conf_ssh_private_key_file
-            )
+            if self._allow_agent:
+                self._ssh_private_key_file = kvargs.get('ssh_private_key_file')
+            else:
+                self._ssh_private_key_file = (
+                    kvargs.get("ssh_private_key_file") or self._conf_ssh_private_key_file
+                )
             self._auth_password = kvargs.get("password") or kvargs.get("passwd")
 
         # -----------------------------
@@ -1354,14 +1365,16 @@ def open(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
         try:
             ts_start = datetime.datetime.now()
 
-            # we want to enable the ssh-agent if-and-only-if we are
+            # enable the ssh-agent if asked, or if we are
             # not given a password or an ssh key file.
             # in this condition it means we want to query the agent
             # for available ssh keys
-
-            allow_agent = bool(
-                (self._auth_password is None) and (self._ssh_private_key_file is None)
-            )
+            if self._allow_agent is False:
+                allow_agent = bool(
+                    (self._auth_password is None) and (self._ssh_private_key_file is None)
+                )
+            else:
+                allow_agent = self._allow_agent
 
             # option to disable ncclient transport ssh authentication
             # using public keys look_for_keys=False
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_device.py b/tests/unit/test_device.py
index 2a3f9a0a2..ddda04717 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_device.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_device.py
@@ -494,6 +494,36 @@ def test_device_open_with_look_for_keys_True(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):
             self.dev2.open()
             self.assertEqual(self.dev2.connected, True)
 
+    @patch("ncclient.manager.connect")
+    @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
+    def test_device_open_with_allow_agent_False(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):
+        with patch("jnpr.junos.utils.fs.FS.cat") as mock_cat:
+            mock_cat.return_value = """
+
+    domain jls.net
+
+            """
+            mock_connect.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            mock_execute.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            self.dev2 = Device(host="2.2.2.2", user="test", password="password123", allow_agent=False)
+            self.dev2.open()
+            self.assertEqual(self.dev2.connected, True)
+
+    @patch("ncclient.manager.connect")
+    @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
+    def test_device_open_with_allow_agent_True(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):
+        with patch("jnpr.junos.utils.fs.FS.cat") as mock_cat:
+            mock_cat.return_value = """
+
+    domain jls.net
+
+            """
+            mock_connect.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            mock_execute.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            self.dev2 = Device(host="2.2.2.2", user="test", password="password123", allow_agent=True)
+            self.dev2.open()
+            self.assertEqual(self.dev2.connected, True)
+
     @patch("ncclient.manager.connect")
     @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
     def test_device_outbound(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):