diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
index 8b365d2a4..07a7df835 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from cli import Cli
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from age_keys import KeyPair
+
 no_kvm = not os.path.exists("/dev/kvm")
 
 
@@ -17,6 +21,13 @@ def test_inspect(test_flake_with_core: Path, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture) -> N
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(no_kvm, reason="Requires KVM")
 @pytest.mark.impure
-def test_create(test_flake_with_core: Path) -> None:
+def test_create(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+    test_flake_with_core: Path,
+    age_keys: list["KeyPair"],
+) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.chdir(test_flake_with_core)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("SOPS_AGE_KEY", age_keys[0].privkey)
     cli = Cli()
+    cli.run(["secrets", "users", "add", "user1", age_keys[0].pubkey])
     cli.run(["vms", "create", "vm1"])