diff --git a/tests/pkd/pkd_util.c b/tests/pkd/pkd_util.c
index 4aded19e..087d969f 100644
--- a/tests/pkd/pkd_util.c
+++ b/tests/pkd/pkd_util.c
@@ -45,10 +45,14 @@ static int is_openssh_client_new_enough(void) {
     FILE *fp = NULL;
     char version[1024] = { 0 };
 
-    int version_ok = 0;
+    static int version_ok = 0;
     unsigned long int major = 0;
     char *tmp = NULL;
 
+    if (version_ok) {
+        return version_ok;
+    }
+
     fp = popen("ssh -V 2>&1", "r");
     if (fp == NULL) {
         fprintf(stderr, "failed to get OpenSSH client version\n");