diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py
index 1c9c3ed2ac6..697cbc4af62 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_user.py
@@ -224,8 +224,7 @@ def map_obj_to_ele(module, want):
                 SubElement(user, 'full-name').text = item['full_name']
 
             if item.get('sshkey'):
-                if 'auth' not in locals():
-                    auth = SubElement(user, 'authentication')
+                auth = SubElement(user, 'authentication')
                 if 'ssh-rsa' in item['sshkey']:
                     ssh_rsa = SubElement(auth, 'ssh-rsa')
                 elif 'ssh-dss' in item['sshkey']:
@@ -237,8 +236,7 @@ def map_obj_to_ele(module, want):
                 key = SubElement(ssh_rsa, 'name').text = item['sshkey']
 
             if item.get('encrypted_password'):
-                if 'auth' not in locals():
-                    auth = SubElement(user, 'authentication')
+                auth = SubElement(user, 'authentication')
                 SubElement(auth, 'encrypted-password').text = item['encrypted_password']
 
     return element