diff --git a/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py b/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
index 641806803..6042cd5ef 100644
--- a/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
+++ b/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
@@ -1216,6 +1216,10 @@ def __init__(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
             *OPTIONAL* To disable public key authentication.
             default is ``None``.
 
+        :param bool hostkey_verify:
+            *OPTIONAL* To enable ssh_known hostkey verify
+            default is ``False``.
+
         """
 
         # ----------------------------------------
@@ -1234,6 +1238,7 @@ def __init__(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
         self._huge_tree = kvargs.get("huge_tree", False)
         self._conn_open_timeout = kvargs.get("conn_open_timeout", 30)
         self._look_for_keys = kvargs.get("look_for_keys", None)
+        self._hostkey_verify = kvargs.get("hostkey_verify", False)
         if self._fact_style != "new":
             warnings.warn(
                 "fact-style %s will be removed in a future "
@@ -1367,6 +1372,14 @@ def open(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
             else:
                 look_for_keys = self._look_for_keys
 
+            # option to enable ssh_known hosts key verification
+            # using hostkey_verify=True
+            # Default is disabled with hostkey_verify=False
+            if self._hostkey_verify is None:
+                hostkey_verify = False
+            else:
+                hostkey_verify = self._hostkey_verify
+
             # open connection using ncclient transport
             self._conn = netconf_ssh.connect(
                 host=self._hostname,
@@ -1374,7 +1387,7 @@ def open(self, *vargs, **kvargs):
                 sock_fd=self._sock_fd,
                 username=self._auth_user,
                 password=self._auth_password,
-                hostkey_verify=False,
+                hostkey_verify=hostkey_verify,
                 key_filename=self._ssh_private_key_file,
                 allow_agent=allow_agent,
                 look_for_keys=look_for_keys,
diff --git a/tests/unit/facts/test_domain.py b/tests/unit/facts/test_domain.py
index 201d0fca0..99958db83 100644
--- a/tests/unit/facts/test_domain.py
+++ b/tests/unit/facts/test_domain.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ def setUp(self, mock_connect):
 
     @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
     def test_domain_fact_from_config(self, mock_execute):
+        self.dev.facts._cache["hostname"] = "r0"
         mock_execute.side_effect = self._mock_manager_domain_config
         self.assertEqual(self.dev.facts["domain"], "juniper.net")
         self.assertEqual(self.dev.facts["fqdn"], "r0.juniper.net")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_device.py b/tests/unit/test_device.py
index 1f8a97ebc..42d16b559 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_device.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_device.py
@@ -496,6 +496,39 @@ def test_device_open_with_look_for_keys_True(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):
             )
             self.dev2.open()
             self.assertEqual(self.dev2.connected, True)
+    @patch("ncclient.manager.connect")
+    @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
+    def test_device_open_with_hostkey_verify_True(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):
+        with patch("jnpr.junos.utils.fs.FS.cat") as mock_cat:
+            mock_cat.return_value = """
+
+    domain jls.net
+
+            """
+            mock_connect.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            mock_execute.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            self.dev2 = Device(
+                host="2.2.2.2", user="test", password="password123", hostkey_verify=True
+            )
+            self.dev2.open()
+            self.assertEqual(self.dev2.connected, True)
+
+    @patch("ncclient.manager.connect")
+    @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
+    def test_device_open_with_hostkey_verify_False(self, mock_connect, mock_execute):
+        with patch("jnpr.junos.utils.fs.FS.cat") as mock_cat:
+            mock_cat.return_value = """
+
+    domain jls.net
+
+            """
+            mock_connect.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            mock_execute.side_effect = self._mock_manager
+            self.dev2 = Device(
+                host="2.2.2.2", user="test", password="password123", hostkey_verify=False
+            )
+            self.dev2.open()
+            self.assertEqual(self.dev2.connected, True)
 
     @patch("ncclient.manager.connect")
     @patch("jnpr.junos.Device.execute")
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_factcache.py b/tests/unit/test_factcache.py
index 7f63fed45..cfe90e9f9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_factcache.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_factcache.py
@@ -32,11 +32,13 @@ def test_factcache_fact_loop(self):
         # Change the callback for the model
         # fact to be the same as the personality fact
         # in order to induce a fact loop.
+        tmp = self.dev.facts._callbacks["model"]
         self.dev.facts._callbacks["model"] = self.dev.facts._callbacks["personality"]
         # Now, trying to fetch the personality
         # fact should cause a FactLoopError
         with self.assertRaises(FactLoopError):
             personality = self.dev.facts["personality"]
+        self.dev.facts._callbacks["model"] = tmp # To clear FactLoopError
 
     def test_factcache_return_unexpected_fact(self):
         # Create a callback for the foo fact.