diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/machines.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/machines.py
index 8bbdd3cef..63e93dca3 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/machines.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/machines.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import json
 import logging
+from collections.abc import Generator
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from os import path
 from pathlib import Path
-from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
-from time import sleep
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile, TemporaryDirectory
 
-from clan_cli.dirs import vm_state_dir
 from qemu.qmp import QEMUMonitorProtocol
 
 from ..cmd import run
@@ -16,6 +16,39 @@ from ..ssh import Host, parse_deployment_address
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+class VMAttr:
+    def __init__(self, machine_name: str) -> None:
+        self.temp_dir = TemporaryDirectory(prefix="clan_vm-", suffix=f"-{machine_name}")
+        self._qmp_socket: Path = Path(self.temp_dir.name) / "qmp.sock"
+        self._qga_socket: Path = Path(self.temp_dir.name) / "qga.sock"
+        self._qmp: QEMUMonitorProtocol | None = None
+
+    @contextmanager
+    def qmp(self) -> Generator[QEMUMonitorProtocol, None, None]:
+        if self._qmp is None:
+            log.debug(f"qmp_socket: {self._qmp_socket}")
+            self._qmp = QEMUMonitorProtocol(path.realpath(self._qmp_socket))
+        self._qmp.connect()
+        try:
+            yield self._qmp
+        finally:
+            self._qmp.close()
+
+    @property
+    def qmp_socket(self) -> Path:
+        if self._qmp is None:
+            log.debug(f"qmp_socket: {self._qmp_socket}")
+            self._qmp = QEMUMonitorProtocol(path.realpath(self._qmp_socket))
+        return self._qmp_socket
+
+    @property
+    def qga_socket(self) -> Path:
+        if self._qmp is None:
+            log.debug(f"qmp_socket: {self.qga_socket}")
+            self._qmp = QEMUMonitorProtocol(path.realpath(self._qmp_socket))
+        return self._qga_socket
+
+
 class Machine:
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -36,14 +69,8 @@ class Machine:
         self.build_cache: dict[str, Path] = {}
 
         self._deployment_info: None | dict[str, str] = deployment_info
-        state_dir = vm_state_dir(flake_url=str(self.flake), vm_name=self.name)
 
-        self.qmp_socket: Path = state_dir / "qmp.sock"
-        self.qga_socket: Path = state_dir / "qga.sock"
-
-        log.debug(f"qmp_socket: {self.qmp_socket}")
-        self._qmp = QEMUMonitorProtocol(path.realpath(self.qmp_socket))
-        self._qmp_connected = False
+        self.vm: VMAttr = VMAttr(name)
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         return f"Machine(name={self.name}, flake={self.flake})"
@@ -60,28 +87,6 @@ class Machine:
         )
         return self._deployment_info
 
-    def qmp_connect(self) -> None:
-        if not self._qmp_connected:
-            tries = 100
-            for num in range(tries):
-                try:
-                    # the socket file link might be outdated, therefore re-init the qmp object
-                    self._qmp = QEMUMonitorProtocol(path.realpath(self.qmp_socket))
-                    self._qmp.connect()
-                    self._qmp_connected = True
-                    log.debug("QMP Connected")
-                    return
-                except FileNotFoundError:
-                    if num < 99:
-                        sleep(0.1)
-                        continue
-                    else:
-                        raise
-
-    def qmp_command(self, command: str) -> dict:
-        self.qmp_connect()
-        return self._qmp.command(command)
-
     @property
     def target_host_address(self) -> str:
         # deploymentAddress is deprecated.
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vms/run.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vms/run.py
index 40a3454e6..ea112e2eb 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vms/run.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vms/run.py
@@ -146,7 +146,9 @@ def qemu_command(
 
 
 # TODO move this to the Machines class
-def build_vm(machine: Machine, vm: VmConfig, nix_options: list[str]) -> dict[str, str]:
+def build_vm(
+    machine: Machine, vm: VmConfig, nix_options: list[str] = []
+) -> dict[str, str]:
     config = nix_config()
     system = config["system"]
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
index 4345ca89d..ab39b6e55 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 import os
 import sys
+import tempfile
 import threading
 import traceback
+from collections.abc import Generator
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from pathlib import Path
 from time import sleep
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -21,6 +24,34 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 no_kvm = not os.path.exists("/dev/kvm")
 
 
+@contextmanager
+def monkeypatch_tempdir_with_custom_path(
+    *, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, custom_path: str, prefix_condition: str
+) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
+    # Custom wrapper function that checks the prefix and either modifies the behavior or falls back to the original
+    class CustomTemporaryDirectory(tempfile.TemporaryDirectory):
+        def __init__(
+            self,
+            suffix: str | None = None,
+            prefix: str | None = None,
+            dir: str | None = None,  # noqa: A002
+        ) -> None:
+            if prefix == prefix_condition:
+                self.name = custom_path  # Use the custom path
+                self._finalizer = None  # Prevent cleanup attempts on the custom path by the original finalizer
+            else:
+                super().__init__(suffix=suffix, prefix=prefix, dir=dir)
+
+    # Use ExitStack to ensure unpatching
+    try:
+        # Patch the TemporaryDirectory with our custom class
+        monkeypatch.setattr(tempfile, "TemporaryDirectory", CustomTemporaryDirectory)
+        yield  # This allows the code within the 'with' block of this context manager to run
+    finally:
+        # Unpatch the TemporaryDirectory
+        monkeypatch.undo()
+
+
 def run_vm_in_thread(machine_name: str) -> None:
     # runs machine and prints exceptions
     def run() -> None:
@@ -125,22 +156,26 @@ def test_vm_qmp(
     # 'clan vms run' must be executed from within the flake
     monkeypatch.chdir(flake.path)
 
-    # the state dir is a point of reference for qemu interactions as it links to the qga/qmp sockets
-    state_dir = vm_state_dir(str(flake.path), "my_machine")
+    with monkeypatch_tempdir_with_custom_path(
+        monkeypatch=monkeypatch,
+        custom_path=str(temporary_home / "vm-tmp"),
+        prefix_condition="clan_vm-",
+    ):
+        # the state dir is a point of reference for qemu interactions as it links to the qga/qmp sockets
+        state_dir = vm_state_dir(str(flake.path), "my_machine")
+        # start the VM
+        run_vm_in_thread("my_machine")
 
-    # start the VM
-    run_vm_in_thread("my_machine")
+        # connect with qmp
+        qmp = qmp_connect(state_dir)
 
-    # connect with qmp
-    qmp = qmp_connect(state_dir)
+        # verify that issuing a command works
+        # result = qmp.cmd_obj({"execute": "query-status"})
+        result = qmp.command("query-status")
+        assert result["status"] == "running", result
 
-    # verify that issuing a command works
-    # result = qmp.cmd_obj({"execute": "query-status"})
-    result = qmp.command("query-status")
-    assert result["status"] == "running", result
-
-    # shutdown machine (prevent zombie qemu processes)
-    qmp.command("system_powerdown")
+        # shutdown machine (prevent zombie qemu processes)
+        qmp.command("system_powerdown")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.skipif(no_kvm, reason="Requires KVM")
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/assets/style.css b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/assets/style.css
index c08c53baa..1284730e2 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/assets/style.css
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/assets/style.css
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ avatar {
 }
 
 .trust {
-    padding-top: 25px; 
-    padding-bottom: 25px; 
+    padding-top: 25px;
+    padding-bottom: 25px;
 }
 
 .join-list {
@@ -22,11 +22,16 @@ avatar {
 
 }
 
+.progress-bar {
+    margin-right: 25px;
+    min-width: 200px;
+}
+
 .group-list {
 	background-color: inherit;
 }
 .group-list > .activatable:hover {
-	background-color: unset;	
+	background-color: unset;
 }
 
 .group-list > row {
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/models/use_vms.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/models/use_vms.py
index 4320c9614..e86cc548e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/models/use_vms.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/models/use_vms.py
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ class VM(GObject.Object):
         self._logs_id: int = 0
         self._log_file: IO[str] | None = None
         self.progress_bar: Gtk.ProgressBar = Gtk.ProgressBar()
+        self.progress_bar.hide()
+        self.progress_bar.set_hexpand(True)  # Horizontally expand
         self.prog_bar_id: int = 0
         self.log_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(
             prefix="clan_vm-", suffix=f"-{self.data.flake.flake_attr}"
@@ -144,10 +146,12 @@ class VM(GObject.Object):
     def build_vm(self, vm: "VM", _vm: "VM", building: bool) -> None:
         if building:
             log.info("Building VM")
+            self.progress_bar.show()
             self.prog_bar_id = GLib.timeout_add(100, self._pulse_progress_bar)
             if self.prog_bar_id == 0:
                 raise ClanError("Couldn't spawn a progess bar task")
         else:
+            self.progress_bar.hide()
             if not GLib.Source.remove(self.prog_bar_id):
                 log.error("Failed to remove progress bar task")
             log.info("VM built")
@@ -157,7 +161,14 @@ class VM(GObject.Object):
         vm = vms.run.inspect_vm(self.machine)
 
         GLib.idle_add(self.emit, "build_vm", self, True)
-        vms.run.build_vm(self.machine, vm, [])
+        self.process = spawn(
+            on_except=None,
+            log_dir=Path(str(self.log_dir.name)),
+            func=vms.run.build_vm,
+            machine=self.machine,
+            vm=vm,
+        )
+        self.process.proc.join()
         GLib.idle_add(self.emit, "build_vm", self, False)
 
         self.process = spawn(
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py
index c011b3337..b28f14ce4 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-vm-manager/clan_vm_manager/views/list.py
@@ -164,7 +164,8 @@ class ClanList(Gtk.Box):
         box = Gtk.Box(orientation=Gtk.Orientation.HORIZONTAL, spacing=5)
         box.set_valign(Gtk.Align.CENTER)
         box.append(vm.progress_bar)
-        row.add_suffix(box)
+        box.set_homogeneous(False)
+        row.add_suffix(box)  # This allows children to have different sizes
 
         # ==== Action buttons ====
         switch = Gtk.Switch()