diff --git a/ansible/roles/tempest/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/tempest/defaults/main.yml
index ec7fd83a7f..0ba8fed161 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/tempest/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/tempest/defaults/main.yml
@@ -32,3 +32,5 @@ tempest_flavor_ref_id:
 tempest_flavor_ref_alt_id: "{{ tempest_flavor_ref_id }}"
 tempest_public_network_id:
 tempest_floating_network_name:
+tempest_image_ssh_user: cirros
+tempest_image_ssh_password: cubswin:)
diff --git a/ansible/roles/tempest/templates/tempest.conf.j2 b/ansible/roles/tempest/templates/tempest.conf.j2
index 6cf35df7c0..8b65b837b2 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/tempest/templates/tempest.conf.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/tempest/templates/tempest.conf.j2
@@ -69,5 +69,5 @@ region = {{ openstack_region_name }}
 api_v1 = False
 
 [validation]
-image_ssh_user = cirros
-image_ssh_password = cubswin:)
+image_ssh_user = {{ tempest_image_ssh_user }}
+image_ssh_password = {{ tempest_image_ssh_password }}