Let $G$ be a $p$-group of order $p^n$ and $Phi$=$Phi(G)$ be the
Frattini subgroup of $G$. It is shown that the nilpotency class of
$Autf(G)$, the group of all automorphisms of $G$ centralizing $G/
Fr(G)$, takes the maximum value $n-2$ if and only if $G$ is of
maximal class. We also determine the nilpotency class of
$Autf(G)$ when $G$ is a finite abelian $p$-group.
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