diff --git a/src/XrdApps/XrdCpConfig.cc b/src/XrdApps/XrdCpConfig.cc
index 42eddfa0317..fc029213a26 100644
--- a/src/XrdApps/XrdCpConfig.cc
+++ b/src/XrdApps/XrdCpConfig.cc
@@ -613,10 +613,13 @@ int XrdCpConfig::defCks(const char *opval)
 
 // Get a checksum object for this checksum
 //
-   if (CksObj) {delete CksObj; CksObj = 0;}
-   if (!CksData.Set(csName) || !(CksObj = CksMan->Object(CksData.Name)))
-      UMSG("Invalid checksum type, '" <<csName <<"'.");
-   CksObj->Type(CksLen);
+   if( strcmp( csName, "auto" ) )
+   {
+     if (CksObj) {delete CksObj; CksObj = 0;}
+     if (!CksData.Set(csName) || !(CksObj = CksMan->Object(CksData.Name)))
+        UMSG("Invalid checksum type, '" <<csName <<"'.");
+     CksObj->Type(CksLen);
+   }
 
 // Reset checksum information
 //