diff --git a/infra/flake-part.nix b/infra/flake-part.nix
index f90bd2ff..56b77e08 100644
--- a/infra/flake-part.nix
+++ b/infra/flake-part.nix
@@ -22,10 +22,26 @@ let
     { vmName, isTestVm }:
     {
       _module.args = { inherit inputs; };
-      imports = [
-        ./common/resource.nix
-        (if isTestVm then ./test-machines + "/${vmName}" else ./machines + "/${vmName}")
-      ];
+      imports =
+        [
+          ./common/resource.nix
+        ]
+        ++ (
+          if isTestVm then
+            [
+              ./test-machines/${vmName}
+              {
+                users.users.root.openssh.authorizedKeys.keys = [
+                  # allow our panel vm access to the test machines
+                  (import ../../keys).systems.fedi201
+                ];
+              }
+            ]
+          else
+            [
+              ./machines/${vmName}
+            ]
+        );
       fediversityVm.name = vmName;
     };