diff --git a/awx/main/models/credential.py b/awx/main/models/credential.py
index 037c71b39c..d2a69918ca 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/credential.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/credential.py
@@ -735,7 +735,8 @@ def net(cls):
             'dependencies': {
                 'ssh_key_unlock': ['ssh_key_data'],
                 'authorize_password': ['authorize'],
-            }
+            },
+            'required': ['username'],
         }
     )
 
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_credential.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_credential.py
index ac9c1be960..fbd8889a06 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_credential.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/api/test_credential.py
@@ -748,6 +748,7 @@ def test_falsey_field_data(get, post, organization, admin, field_value):
         'credential_type': net.pk,
         'organization': organization.id,
         'inputs': {
+            'username': 'joe-user',  # username is required
             'authorize': field_value
         }
     }
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_credential.py b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_credential.py
index cdb54c2265..4a51565d04 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/functional/test_credential.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/functional/test_credential.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def test_credential_creation_validation_failure(organization_factory, inputs):
     [EXAMPLE_PRIVATE_KEY.replace('=', '\u003d'), None, True],  # automatically fix JSON-encoded GCE keys
 ])
 def test_ssh_key_data_validation(organization, kind, ssh_key_data, ssh_key_unlock, valid):
-    inputs = {}
+    inputs = {'username': 'joe-user'}
     if ssh_key_data:
         inputs['ssh_key_data'] = ssh_key_data
     if ssh_key_unlock: