diff --git a/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.c b/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.c
index c32c0636..29948d88 100644
--- a/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.c
+++ b/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.c
@@ -368,9 +368,9 @@ static int pkd_exec_hello(int fd, struct pkd_daemon_args *args)
         goto out;
     }
 
-    rc = ssh_channel_write(c, "hello\n", 6); /* XXX: customizable payloads */
-    if (rc != 6) {
-        pkderr("ssh_channel_write partial (%d)\n", rc);
+    rc = ssh_channel_write(c, args->payload.buf, args->payload.len);
+    if (rc != args->payload.len) {
+        pkderr("ssh_channel_write partial (%d != %zd)\n", rc, args->payload.len);
     }
 
     rc = ssh_channel_request_send_exit_status(c, 0);
diff --git a/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.h b/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.h
index 3b37bc5d..ffc36c6c 100644
--- a/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.h
+++ b/tests/pkd/pkd_daemon.h
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ struct pkd_daemon_args {
     enum pkd_hostkey_type_e type;
     const char *hostkeypath;
 
+    struct {
+        const uint8_t *buf;
+        size_t len;
+    } payload;
+
     struct {
         int list;
 
diff --git a/tests/pkd/pkd_hello.c b/tests/pkd/pkd_hello.c
index f493703b..e7d36392 100644
--- a/tests/pkd/pkd_hello.c
+++ b/tests/pkd/pkd_hello.c
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@
 #define DEFAULT_ITERATIONS 10
 static struct pkd_daemon_args pkd_dargs;
 
+static uint8_t default_payload_buf[] = {
+    'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o', '\n',
+};
+
+static size_t default_payload_len = sizeof(default_payload_buf);
+
 #ifdef HAVE_ARGP_H
 #include <argp.h>
 #define PROGNAME "pkd_hello"
@@ -957,6 +963,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 
     unsetenv("SSH_AUTH_SOCK");
 
+    pkd_dargs.payload.buf = default_payload_buf;
+    pkd_dargs.payload.len = default_payload_len;
+
     rc = ssh_init();
     if (rc != 0) {
         rc = SSH_ERROR;