diff --git a/contrib/dracut/90zfs/zfs-load-key.sh.in b/contrib/dracut/90zfs/zfs-load-key.sh.in
index 88f43b6edc6..4e945f14abb 100755
--- a/contrib/dracut/90zfs/zfs-load-key.sh.in
+++ b/contrib/dracut/90zfs/zfs-load-key.sh.in
@@ -37,15 +37,22 @@ fi
 if [ "$(zpool list -H -o feature@encryption $(echo "${BOOTFS}" | awk -F\/ '{print $1}'))" = 'active' ]; then
     # if the root dataset has encryption enabled
     ENCRYPTIONROOT=$(zfs get -H -o value encryptionroot "${BOOTFS}")
+    # where the key is stored (in a file or loaded via prompt)
+    KEYLOCATION=$(${ZFS} get -H -o value keylocation "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}")
     if ! [ "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}" = "-" ]; then
         KEYSTATUS="$(zfs get -H -o value keystatus "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}")"
         # continue only if the key needs to be loaded
         [ "$KEYSTATUS" = "unavailable" ] || exit 0
-        # decrypt them
-        TRY_COUNT=5
-        while [ $TRY_COUNT -gt 0 ]; do
-            systemd-ask-password "Encrypted ZFS password for ${BOOTFS}" --no-tty | zfs load-key "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}" && break
-            TRY_COUNT=$((TRY_COUNT - 1))
-        done
+        # if key is stored in a file, do not prompt
+        if ! [ "${KEYLOCATION}" = "prompt" ]; then
+            zfs load-key "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}"
+        else
+            # decrypt them
+            TRY_COUNT=5
+            while [ $TRY_COUNT -gt 0 ]; do
+                systemd-ask-password "Encrypted ZFS password for ${BOOTFS}" --no-tty | zfs load-key "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}" && break
+                TRY_COUNT=$((TRY_COUNT - 1))
+            done
+        fi
     fi
 fi
diff --git a/contrib/initramfs/scripts/zfs.in b/contrib/initramfs/scripts/zfs.in
index 4b04c4be4d4..9f2a0bf5a56 100644
--- a/contrib/initramfs/scripts/zfs.in
+++ b/contrib/initramfs/scripts/zfs.in
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ decrypt_fs()
 
 		# Determine dataset that holds key for root dataset
 		ENCRYPTIONROOT="$(get_fs_value "${fs}" encryptionroot)"
+		KEYLOCATION="$(${ZFS} get -H -o value keylocation "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}")"
 
 		# If root dataset is encrypted...
 		if ! [ "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}" = "-" ]; then
@@ -418,8 +419,13 @@ decrypt_fs()
 			# Continue only if the key needs to be loaded
 			[ "$KEYSTATUS" = "unavailable" ] || return 0
 			TRY_COUNT=3
+
+			# If keylocation is not "prompt", do not load key with a prompt helper
+			if ! [ "${KEYLOCATION}" = "prompt" ]; then
+				$ZFS load-key "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}"
+
 			# Prompt with plymouth, if active
-			if [ -e /bin/plymouth ] && /bin/plymouth --ping 2>/dev/null; then
+			elif [ -e /bin/plymouth ] && /bin/plymouth --ping 2>/dev/null; then
 				while [ $TRY_COUNT -gt 0 ]; do
 					plymouth ask-for-password --prompt "Encrypted ZFS password for ${ENCRYPTIONROOT}" | \
 						$ZFS load-key "${ENCRYPTIONROOT}" && break