Let $X$ be a finite connected poset and $K$ a field. We study the question, when all Lie automorphisms of the incidence algebra $I(X,K)$ are proper. Without any restriction on the length of $X$ we find only a sufficient condition involving certain equivalence relation on the set of maximal chains of $X$. For some classes of posets of length one, such as finite connected crownless posets (i.e., without weak crown subposets), crowns and ordinal sums of two antichains we give a complete answer.