diff --git a/contrib/cvs/src/client.c b/contrib/cvs/src/client.c
index 31196137835..525cb79c8fd 100644
--- a/contrib/cvs/src/client.c
+++ b/contrib/cvs/src/client.c
@@ -4720,7 +4720,7 @@ start_rsh_server (tofdp, fromfdp)
 	   example in CVS_RSH or other such mechanisms to be devised,
 	   if that is what they want (the manual already tells them
 	   that).  */
-	cvs_rsh = "rsh";
+	cvs_rsh = "ssh";
     if (!cvs_server)
 	cvs_server = "cvs";
 
@@ -4777,7 +4777,7 @@ start_rsh_server (tofdp, fromfdp)
     char *command;
 
     if (!cvs_rsh)
-	cvs_rsh = "rsh";
+	cvs_rsh = "ssh";
     if (!cvs_server)
 	cvs_server = "cvs";