diff --git a/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2 b/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2
index d51db02d0d..eb4aff220f 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/nova-cell/templates/sshd_config.j2
@@ -6,3 +6,6 @@ ListenAddress {{ migration_interface_address }}
 
 SyslogFacility AUTHPRIV
 UsePAM yes
+{% if kolla_base_distro in ["centos", "rocky"] %}
+Subsystem       sftp    /usr/libexec/openssh/sftp-server
+{% endif %}