diff --git a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/service-module.nix b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/service-module.nix
index 13ae05355..87ec23b0d 100644
--- a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/service-module.nix
+++ b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/service-module.nix
@@ -97,11 +97,6 @@ let
             inherit (v) settings;
           }).config;
       }) role.machines;
-      settings =
-        (evalMachineSettings {
-          inherit roleName instanceName;
-          inherit (role) settings;
-        }).config;
     }) instance.roles;
 in
 {
@@ -446,15 +441,12 @@ in
                             };
                             # ...
                           };
-                          settings = {
-                            timeout = 30;
-                          };
                         };
                         # ...
                       };
                       ```
 
-                    - `settings`: The settings of the role, as defined in `instances`
+                    - `settings`: The settings of the current machine, as defined in `instances`
                       ```nix
                       {
                         timeout = 30;
diff --git a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_instance_args.nix b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_instance_args.nix
index a9bdd87b7..9b54ddbb5 100644
--- a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_instance_args.nix
+++ b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_instance_args.nix
@@ -123,9 +123,6 @@ in
     };
     expected = {
       instanceName = "instance_foo";
-      settings = {
-        timeout = "foo-peer-jon";
-      };
       machine = {
         name = "jon";
         roles = [
@@ -137,12 +134,9 @@ in
         controller = {
           machines = {
             jon = {
-              settings = {
-              };
+              settings = { };
             };
           };
-          settings = {
-          };
         };
         peer = {
           machines = {
@@ -152,11 +146,11 @@ in
               };
             };
           };
-          settings = {
-            timeout = "foo-peer";
-          };
         };
       };
+      settings = {
+        timeout = "foo-peer-jon";
+      };
     };
   };
 
diff --git a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_machine_args.nix b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_machine_args.nix
index 5d9a11392..8e378a06d 100644
--- a/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_machine_args.nix
+++ b/lib/modules/inventory/distributed-service/tests/per_machine_args.nix
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ let
       roles.peer.tags.all = { };
     };
   };
-
-  filterInternals = lib.filterAttrs (n: _v: !lib.hasPrefix "_" n);
 in
 
 {
@@ -89,7 +87,8 @@ in
       # instance = instance_foo
       # roles = peer
       # machines = jon
-      specificMachineSettings = filterInternals res.importedModulesEvaluated.self-A.result.allMachines.jon.passthru.instances.instance_foo.roles.peer.machines.jon.settings;
+      specificMachineSettings =
+        res.importedModulesEvaluated.self-A.result.allMachines.jon.passthru.instances.instance_foo.roles.peer.machines.jon.settings;
 
       hasRoleSettings =
         res.importedModulesEvaluated.self-A.result.allMachines.jon.passthru.instances.instance_foo.roles.peer
@@ -100,16 +99,21 @@ in
       # instance = instance_foo
       # roles = peer
       # machines = *
-      specificRoleSettings = filterInternals res.importedModulesEvaluated.self-A.result.allMachines.jon.passthru.instances.instance_foo.roles.peer.settings;
+      specificRoleSettings =
+        res.importedModulesEvaluated.self-A.result.allMachines.jon.passthru.instances.instance_foo.roles.peer;
     };
-    expected = {
+    expected = rec {
       hasMachineSettings = true;
+      hasRoleSettings = false;
       specificMachineSettings = {
         timeout = "foo-peer-jon";
       };
-      hasRoleSettings = true;
       specificRoleSettings = {
-        timeout = "foo-peer";
+        machines = {
+          jon = {
+            settings = specificMachineSettings;
+          };
+        };
       };
     };
   };