diff --git a/library/authorized_key b/library/authorized_key
index e6ef384054..eea56c988a 100755
--- a/library/authorized_key
+++ b/library/authorized_key
@@ -75,8 +75,12 @@ def get_params():
     global msg
 
     msg = "reading params"
-    with file(sys.argv[1]) as f:            #read the args file
+    argfile = sys.argv[1]
+    try:
+        f = open(argfile,"r")
         args = f.read()
+    finally:
+        f.close()
 
     msg = "writing syslog."
     syslog.openlog('ansible-%s' % os.path.basename(__file__))
@@ -91,22 +95,23 @@ def get_params():
 
     return params
 
-def keyfile(user, create=False):
+def keyfile(user, write=False):
     """Calculate name of authorized keys file, optionally creating the 
     directories and file, properly setting permissions.
 
     :param str user: name of user in passwd file
-    :param bool create: make directories and authorized key file if True
+    :param bool write: if True, write changes to authorized_keys file (creating directories if needed)
     :return: full path string to authorized_keys for user
     """
 
     global msg
     msg = "Reading system user entry."
     user_entry = pwd.getpwnam(user)
+    msg = "Calculating special directories"
     homedir = user_entry.pw_dir
     sshdir = join(homedir, ".ssh")
     keysfile = join(sshdir, "authorized_keys")
-    if not create: return keysfile
+    if not write: return keysfile
 
     #create directories and files for authorized keys
     msg = "Reading user and group info."
@@ -118,8 +123,10 @@ def keyfile(user, create=False):
     os.chmod(sshdir, 0700)
     msg = "Touching authorized keys file."
     if not exists( keysfile):
-        with file(keysfile, "w") as f: 
-            f.write("#Authorized Keys File created by Ansible.")
+        try:
+            f = open(keysfile, "w") #touches file so we can set ownership and perms
+        finally:
+            f.close()
     os.chown(keysfile, uid, gid)
     os.chmod(keysfile, 0600)
     return keysfile
@@ -128,15 +135,21 @@ def readkeys( filename):
     global msg
     msg = "Reading authorized_keys."
     if not isfile(filename): return []
-    with file(filename) as f:
+    try:
+        f = open(filename)
         keys = [line.rstrip() for line in f.readlines()]
+    finally:
+        f.close()
     return keys
 
 def writekeys( filename, keys):
     global msg
     msg = "Writing authorized_keys."
-    with file(filename,"w") as f:
+    try:
+        f = open(filename,"w")
         f.writelines( (key + "\n" for key in keys) )
+    finally:
+        f.close()
 
 def enforce_state( params):
     """Add or remove key.
@@ -153,7 +166,7 @@ def enforce_state( params):
     state = params.get("state", "present")
 
     #== check current state
-    params["keyfile"] = keyfile(user)
+    params["keyfile"] = keyfile(user, write=False) #just get the filename, don't create file
     keys = readkeys( params["keyfile"])
     present = key in keys
 
@@ -161,11 +174,11 @@ def enforce_state( params):
     if state=="present":
         if present: return False #nothing to do
         keys.append(key)
-        writekeys(keyfile(user,create=True), keys)
+        writekeys(keyfile(user,write=True), keys)
     elif state=="absent":
         if not present: return False #nothing to do
         keys.remove(key)
-        writekeys(keyfile(user,create=True), keys)
+        writekeys(keyfile(user,write=True), keys)
     else:
         msg = "Invalid param: state."
         raise StandardError(msg)