diff --git a/test/ete/scripts/run-healthcheck.sh b/test/ete/scripts/run-healthcheck.sh
index 45142b0..708ef12 100755
--- a/test/ete/scripts/run-healthcheck.sh
+++ b/test/ete/scripts/run-healthcheck.sh
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 ROBOT_IP=$(./get-floating-ip.sh onap-robot)
 echo "ROBOT_IP=${ROBOT_IP}"
 
+# allow direct login as root
+ssh -o StrictHostKeychecking=no -i ${SSH_KEY} ubuntu@${ROBOT_IP} 'sudo cp /home/ubuntu/.ssh/authorized_keys /root/.ssh/'
+
 ssh -o StrictHostKeychecking=no -i ${SSH_KEY} root@${ROBOT_IP} "OS_PASSWORD_INPUT=$OS_PASSWORD_INPUT bash -s" < ./remote/run-robot.sh
 LOG_DIR=$(ssh -o StrictHostKeychecking=no -i ${SSH_KEY} root@${ROBOT_IP} "ls -1t /opt/eteshare/logs | head -1")
 rsync -e "ssh -i ${SSH_KEY}" -avPz root@${ROBOT_IP}:/opt/eteshare/logs/${LOG_DIR}/ $WORKSPACE/archives/