diff --git a/bin/hardening/5.2.3_ssh_host_public_keys_perm_ownership.sh b/bin/hardening/5.2.3_ssh_host_public_keys_perm_ownership.sh
index 7a9f6c2..c1b2b61 100755
--- a/bin/hardening/5.2.3_ssh_host_public_keys_perm_ownership.sh
+++ b/bin/hardening/5.2.3_ssh_host_public_keys_perm_ownership.sh
@@ -32,8 +32,13 @@ audit () {
             if [ $FNRET = 0 ]; then
                 ok "$FILE permissions were set to $PERMISSIONS"
             else
-                ERRORS=$((ERRORS+1))
-                crit "$FILE permissions were not set to $PERMISSIONS"
+                has_file_correct_permissions $FILE 600
+                if [ $FNRET = 0 ]; then
+                    ok "$FILE permissions were set to $PERMISSIONS"
+                else
+                    ERRORS=$((ERRORS+1))
+                    crit "$FILE permissions were not set to $PERMISSIONS"
+                fi
             fi
         fi
 
@@ -73,8 +78,13 @@ apply () {
             if [ $FNRET = 0 ]; then
                 ok "$FILE permissions were set to $PERMISSIONS"
             else
-                warn "fixing $DIR SSH public keys permissions to $USER:$GROUP"
-                chmod 0$PERMISSIONS $FILE
+                has_file_correct_permissions $FILE 600
+                if [ $FNRET = 0 ]; then
+                    ok "$FILE permissions were set to $PERMISSIONS"
+                else
+                    warn "fixing $DIR SSH public keys permissions to $USER:$GROUP"
+                    chmod 0$PERMISSIONS $FILE
+                fi
             fi
         fi
     done