diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cc8f3ed..ffec9d6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+<a name="1.4.2"></a>
+### 1.4.2 (2022-05-12)
+
+#### Bug Fixes
+
+*   resolve issue with ssh_config variable precedence
+
+
 <a name="1.4.1"></a>
 ### 1.4.1 ()
 
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index abfc001..fd557ad 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 # variable fallback defaults
 # usually overridden from Play or distro specific vars file
-ssh_config: {}
+ssh_config: "{{ ssh_config_default }}"
 ssh_packages: []
 ssh_service: sshd
 
diff --git a/vars/debian/bullseye.yml b/vars/debian/bullseye.yml
index f5b5176..87a141d 100644
--- a/vars/debian/bullseye.yml
+++ b/vars/debian/bullseye.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ ssh_packages:
 
 ssh_service: ssh
 
-ssh_config:
+ssh_config_default:
   Include: /etc/ssh/sshd_config.d/*.conf
   ChallengeResponseAuthentication: "no"
   UsePAM: "yes"
diff --git a/vars/openbsd.yml b/vars/openbsd.yml
index 2141241..2b03cca 100644
--- a/vars/openbsd.yml
+++ b/vars/openbsd.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ ssh_service: sshd
 
 sshd_config_group: 'wheel'
 
-ssh_config:
+ssh_config_default:
   PermitRootLogin: "no"
   AuthorizedKeysFile: .ssh/authorized_keys
   Subsystem: sftp /usr/libexec/sftp-server
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu/bionic.yml b/vars/ubuntu/bionic.yml
index 350b61e..f29388b 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu/bionic.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu/bionic.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ssh_packages:
 
 ssh_service: ssh
 
-ssh_config:
+ssh_config_default:
   Port: "{{ ssh_port }}"
   ListenAddress: "{{ ssh_listen_address }}"
   PermitRootLogin: "{{ ssh_permit_root_login }}"
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu/trusty.yml b/vars/ubuntu/trusty.yml
index 8782c9a..b823d33 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu/trusty.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu/trusty.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ssh_packages:
 
 ssh_service: ssh
 
-ssh_config:
+ssh_config_default:
   Port: "{{ ssh_port }}"
   Protocol: "{{ ssh_protocol }}"
   ListenAddress: "{{ ssh_listen_address }}"
diff --git a/vars/ubuntu/xenial.yml b/vars/ubuntu/xenial.yml
index 8782c9a..b823d33 100644
--- a/vars/ubuntu/xenial.yml
+++ b/vars/ubuntu/xenial.yml
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ ssh_packages:
 
 ssh_service: ssh
 
-ssh_config:
+ssh_config_default:
   Port: "{{ ssh_port }}"
   Protocol: "{{ ssh_protocol }}"
   ListenAddress: "{{ ssh_listen_address }}"