diff --git a/extensions/molecule/linode/create.yml b/extensions/molecule/linode/create.yml
index ba16816..3b5c7e8 100644
--- a/extensions/molecule/linode/create.yml
+++ b/extensions/molecule/linode/create.yml
@@ -11,12 +11,17 @@
         linode: {}
 
   tasks:
+    - name: ssh key setup
+      copy:
+        content: |
+          {{ lookup('env', 'ACT_RUNNER_DEPLOY_KEY') }}
+        dest: "~/.ssh/id_ed25519"
+
     - name: Confirm we can reach
       command:
         cmd: |
-          echo {{ lookup('env', 'ACT_RUNNER_DEPLOY_KEY') }} > ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
           ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
-          ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new -T root@{{ lookup('env', 'TARGET_IP_ADDRESS') }}
+          ssh -vv -o StrictHostKeyChecking=accept-new -T root@{{ lookup('env', 'TARGET_IP_ADDRESS') }}
       retries: 12
       delay: 10
       register: isping