diff -up openssh-7.4p1/servconf.c.permit-root openssh-7.4p1/servconf.c
--- openssh-7.4p1/servconf.c.permit-root	2017-02-10 10:27:18.109487568 +0100
+++ openssh-7.4p1/servconf.c	2017-02-10 10:28:12.385776132 +0100
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ fill_default_server_options(ServerOption
 	if (options->login_grace_time == -1)
 		options->login_grace_time = 120;
 	if (options->permit_root_login == PERMIT_NOT_SET)
-		options->permit_root_login = PERMIT_NO_PASSWD;
+		options->permit_root_login = PERMIT_YES;
 	if (options->ignore_rhosts == -1)
 		options->ignore_rhosts = 1;
 	if (options->ignore_user_known_hosts == -1)
diff -up openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config.5.permit-root openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config.5
--- openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config.5.permit-root	2017-02-10 10:28:24.174605582 +0100
+++ openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config.5	2017-02-10 10:28:42.254344023 +0100
@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ The argument must be
 or
 .Cm no .
 The default is
-.Cm prohibit-password .
+.Cm yes .
 .Pp
 If this option is set to
 .Cm prohibit-password
diff -up openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config.permit-root openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config
--- openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config.permit-root	2017-02-10 10:26:52.256797645 +0100
+++ openssh-7.4p1/sshd_config	2017-02-10 10:26:52.276797405 +0100
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ SyslogFacility AUTHPRIV
 # Authentication:
 
 #LoginGraceTime 2m
-#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password
+#PermitRootLogin yes
 #StrictModes yes
 #MaxAuthTries 6
 #MaxSessions 10