Package: openssh-client Version: 1:6.6p1-4~bpo70+1 According to its own usage message this should work: % ssh-agent -d sleep 30 usage: ssh-agent [options] [command [arg ...]] Options: -c Generate C-shell commands on stdout. -s Generate Bourne shell commands on stdout. -k Kill the current agent. -d Debug mode. -a socket Bind agent socket to given name. -t life Default identity lifetime (seconds). % echo $? 1 Regards Harri