diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py
index 0196b7378..e3f682f02 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def install_command(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
                 host_key_check=host_key_check,
             )
         else:
-            target_host = machine.target_host().with_data(host_key_check=host_key_check)
+            target_host = machine.target_host().override(host_key_check=host_key_check)
 
         if machine._class_ == "darwin":
             msg = "Installing macOS machines is not yet supported"
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/machines.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/machines.py
index 0b5adf6ec..56e28d00e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/machines.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/machines.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class Machine:
     flake: Flake
 
     nix_options: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
-    private_key: Path | None = None
+
     host_key_check: HostKeyCheck = HostKeyCheck.STRICT
 
     def get_inv_machine(self) -> "InventoryMachine":
@@ -149,18 +149,8 @@ class Machine:
                 description="See https://docs.clan.lol/guides/getting-started/deploy/#setting-the-target-host for more information.",
             )
         data = remote.data
-        return Remote(
-            address=data.address,
-            user=data.user,
-            command_prefix=data.command_prefix,
-            port=data.port,
-            private_key=self.private_key,
-            password=data.password,
-            forward_agent=data.forward_agent,
+        return data.override(
             host_key_check=self.host_key_check,
-            verbose_ssh=data.verbose_ssh,
-            ssh_options=data.ssh_options,
-            tor_socks=data.tor_socks,
         )
 
     def build_host(self) -> Remote | None:
@@ -172,18 +162,8 @@ class Machine:
 
         if remote:
             data = remote.data
-            return Remote(
-                address=data.address,
-                user=data.user,
-                command_prefix=data.command_prefix,
-                port=data.port,
-                private_key=self.private_key,
-                password=data.password,
-                forward_agent=data.forward_agent,
+            return data.override(
                 host_key_check=self.host_key_check,
-                verbose_ssh=data.verbose_ssh,
-                ssh_options=data.ssh_options,
-                tor_socks=data.tor_socks,
             )
 
         return None
@@ -289,7 +269,6 @@ def get_host(
             machine_name=machine.name,
             address=host_str,
             host_key_check=machine.host_key_check,
-            private_key=machine.private_key,
         ),
         source=source,
     )
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/ssh/remote.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/ssh/remote.py
index f810310ed..e2d7d20e9 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/ssh/remote.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/ssh/remote.py
@@ -54,7 +54,12 @@ class Remote:
         except ValueError:
             return False
 
-    def with_data(self, host_key_check: HostKeyCheck | None = None) -> "Remote":
+    def override(
+        self,
+        *,
+        host_key_check: HostKeyCheck | None = None,
+        private_key: Path | None = None,
+    ) -> "Remote":
         """
         Returns a new Remote instance with the same data but with a different host_key_check.
         """
@@ -63,7 +68,7 @@ class Remote:
             user=self.user,
             command_prefix=self.command_prefix,
             port=self.port,
-            private_key=self.private_key,
+            private_key=private_key if private_key is not None else self.private_key,
             password=self.password,
             forward_agent=self.forward_agent,
             host_key_check=host_key_check
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/tests/test_create.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/tests/test_create.py
index 245eb0cf1..7d846ec2e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/tests/test_create.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/tests/test_create.py
@@ -192,10 +192,7 @@ def test_clan_create_api(
         )
     )
     machine = Machine(
-        name=vm_name,
-        flake=clan_dir_flake,
-        host_key_check=HostKeyCheck.NONE,
-        private_key=private_key,
+        name=vm_name, flake=clan_dir_flake, host_key_check=HostKeyCheck.NONE
     )
     machines.append(machine)
     assert len(machines) == 1
@@ -203,7 +200,8 @@ def test_clan_create_api(
     # Invalidate cache because of new machine creation
     clan_dir_flake.invalidate_cache()
 
-    result = check_machine_online(machine.target_host())
+    target_host = machine.target_host().override(private_key=private_key)
+    result = check_machine_online(target_host)
     assert result == "Online", f"Machine {machine.name} is not online"
 
     ssh_keys = [