diff --git a/checks/installation/flake-module.nix b/checks/installation/flake-module.nix
index a189b12ce..f1284c94f 100644
--- a/checks/installation/flake-module.nix
+++ b/checks/installation/flake-module.nix
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@
                       "-i", ssh_conn.ssh_key,
                       "--option", "store", os.environ['CLAN_TEST_STORE'],
                       "--update-hardware-config", "nixos-facter",
+                      "--no-persist-state",
                   ]
 
                   subprocess.run(clan_cmd, check=True)
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@
                       "${self.checks.x86_64-linux.clan-core-for-checks}",
                       "${closureInfo}"
                   )
-                  
+
                   # Set up SSH connection
                   ssh_conn = setup_ssh_connection(
                       target,
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py
index fade32d7a..4f5e4c7a1 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/machines/install.py
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ def install_command(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
                     no_reboot=args.no_reboot,
                     build_on=args.build_on if args.build_on is not None else None,
                     update_hardware_config=HardwareConfig(args.update_hardware_config),
+                    persist_state=not args.no_persist_state,
                 ),
                 target_host=remote,
             )
@@ -137,6 +138,12 @@ def register_install_parser(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
         help="update the hardware configuration",
         choices=[x.value for x in HardwareConfig],
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--no-persist-state",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Disable persisting the result of the installation after it is done",
+        default=False,
+    )
 
     parser.add_argument(
         "--phases",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/install.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/install.py
index 066399d67..bbfd0ef19 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/install.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_lib/machines/install.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ class InstallOptions:
     phases: str | None = None
     build_on: BuildOn | None = None
     update_hardware_config: HardwareConfig = HardwareConfig.NONE
+    persist_state: bool = True
 
 
 @API.register
@@ -227,16 +228,16 @@ def run_machine_install(opts: InstallOptions, target_host: Remote) -> None:
             RunOpts(log=Log.BOTH, prefix=machine.name, needs_user_terminal=True),
         )
 
-    inventory_store = InventoryStore(machine.flake)
-    inventory = inventory_store.read()
+    if opts.persist_state:
+        inventory_store = InventoryStore(machine.flake)
+        inventory = inventory_store.read()
 
-    set_value_by_path(
-        inventory,
-        f"machine.{machine.name}.installedAt",
-        # Cut of the milliseconds
-        int(time()),
-    )
-
-    inventory_store.write(
-        inventory, f"Installed {machine.name} at {target_host.target}"
-    )
+        set_value_by_path(
+            inventory,
+            f"machine.{machine.name}.installedAt",
+            # Cut of the milliseconds
+            int(time()),
+        )
+        inventory_store.write(
+            inventory, f"Installed {machine.name} at {target_host.target}"
+        )