diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index ea899f2b0..128e1d6aa 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -203,6 +203,10 @@ Other changes:
 
  * <sql> "output" attribute now supports any Resource in addition to a file.
 
+ * <scp> no longer requires a passphrase when using key based
+   authentication.
+   Bugzilla report 33718.
+
 Changes from Ant 1.7.0 TO Ant 1.7.1
 =============================================
 
diff --git a/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/scp.html b/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/scp.html
index 6d7a43d48..b26acc55d 100644
--- a/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/scp.html
+++ b/docs/manual/OptionalTasks/scp.html
@@ -156,8 +156,7 @@ for more information.  This task has been tested with jsch-0.1.2 and later.</p>
   <tr>
     <td valign="top">passphrase</td>
      <td valign="top">Passphrase for your private key.</td>
-     <td valign="top" align="center">Yes, if you are using key based
-     authentication.</td>
+     <td valign="top" align="center">No, defaults to an empty string.</td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <td valign="top">verbose</td>
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java
index f80376d5e..8a8dad234 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/taskdefs/optional/ssh/Scp.java
@@ -353,15 +353,15 @@ public class Scp extends SSHBase {
             setUsername(uri.substring(0, indexOfColon));
             setPassword(uri.substring(indexOfColon + 1, indexOfAt));
         } else if (indexOfAt > -1) {
-            // no password, will require passphrase
+            // no password, will require keyfile
             setUsername(uri.substring(0, indexOfAt));
         } else {
             throw new BuildException("no username was given.  Can't authenticate."); 
         }
 
         if (getUserInfo().getPassword() == null
-            && getUserInfo().getPassphrase() == null) {
-            throw new BuildException("neither password nor passphrase for user "
+            && getUserInfo().getKeyfile() == null) {
+            throw new BuildException("neither password nor keyfile for user "
                                      + getUserInfo().getName() + " has been "
                                      + "given.  Can't authenticate.");
         }