diff --git a/libssh/channels.c b/libssh/channels.c
index a046e89f..b976b718 100644
--- a/libssh/channels.c
+++ b/libssh/channels.c
@@ -552,6 +552,15 @@ static void channel_rcv_request(ssh_session session) {
     return;
   }
 
+  if(strcmp(request,"keepalive@openssh.com")==0){
+    SAFE_FREE(request);
+    ssh_log(session, SSH_LOG_PROTOCOL,"Responding to Openssh's keepalive");
+    buffer_add_u8(session->out_buffer, SSH2_MSG_CHANNEL_SUCCESS);
+    buffer_add_u32(session->out_buffer, htonl(channel->remote_channel));
+    packet_send(session);
+    leave_function();
+    return;
+  }
   /* TODO call message_handle since it handles channel requests as messages */
   /* *but* reset buffer before !! */