diff --git a/pkgs/clan-app/tests/helpers/cli.py b/pkgs/clan-app/tests/helpers/cli.py
index f420ca3d..d5c219ac 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-app/tests/helpers/cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-app/tests/helpers/cli.py
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ from clan_app import main
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class Cli:
-    def run(self, args: list[str]) -> None:
-        cmd = shlex.join(["clan", *args])
-        log.debug(f"$ {cmd} \nCaller: {get_caller()}")
-        main(args)
+def run(args: list[str]) -> None:
+    cmd = shlex.join(["clan", *args])
+    log.debug(f"$ {cmd} \nCaller: {get_caller()}")
+    main(args)
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-app/tests/test_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-app/tests/test_cli.py
index 64cc8891..9a3b5cdb 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-app/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-app/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import pytest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 
 def test_help(capfd: pytest.CaptureFixture) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
         cli.run(["clan-app", "--help"])
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/helpers/cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/helpers/cli.py
index 2cba28ac..eb67b31e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/helpers/cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/helpers/cli.py
@@ -8,12 +8,11 @@ from clan_cli.custom_logger import get_caller
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class Cli:
-    def run(self, args: list[str]) -> argparse.Namespace:
-        parser = create_parser(prog="clan")
-        parsed = parser.parse_args(args)
-        cmd = shlex.join(["clan", *args])
-        log.debug(f"$ {cmd} \nCaller: {get_caller()}")
-        if hasattr(parsed, "func"):
-            parsed.func(parsed)
-        return parsed
+def run(args: list[str]) -> argparse.Namespace:
+    parser = create_parser(prog="clan")
+    parsed = parser.parse_args(args)
+    cmd = shlex.join(["clan", *args])
+    log.debug(f"$ {cmd} \nCaller: {get_caller()}")
+    if hasattr(parsed, "func"):
+        parsed.func(parsed)
+    return parsed
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_backups.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_backups.py
index 8ac99c39..dd13a0d2 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_backups.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_backups.py
@@ -1,14 +1,12 @@
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 
 @pytest.mark.impure
 def test_backups(
     test_flake_with_core: FlakeForTest,
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
-
     cli.run(
         [
             "backups",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_cli.py
index 87a6eaac..5f4762bc 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 import pytest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 
 def test_help(capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
         cli.run(["--help"])
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_config.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_config.py
index 64424d35..4cc91d5a 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_config.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 from clan_cli import config
 from clan_cli.config import parsing
@@ -13,12 +13,8 @@ example_options = f"{Path(config.__file__).parent}/jsonschema/options.json"
 
 def test_configure_machine(
     test_flake: FlakeForTest,
-    temporary_home: Path,
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture,
-    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
-
     # clear the output buffer
     capsys.readouterr()
     # read a option value
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_create_flake.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_create_flake.py
index 2db3dae4..ae09e79a 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_create_flake.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_create_flake.py
@@ -3,12 +3,7 @@ import subprocess
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def cli() -> Cli:
-    return Cli()
+from helpers import cli
 
 
 @pytest.mark.impure
@@ -16,7 +11,6 @@ def test_create_flake(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture,
     temporary_home: Path,
-    cli: Cli,
     clan_core: Path,
 ) -> None:
     flake_dir = temporary_home / "test-flake"
@@ -56,7 +50,6 @@ def test_ui_template(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture,
     temporary_home: Path,
-    cli: Cli,
     clan_core: Path,
 ) -> None:
     flake_dir = temporary_home / "test-flake"
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_flakes_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_flakes_cli.py
index e6c6a442..6bb57fc8 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_flakes_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_flakes_cli.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     pass
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 def test_flakes_inspect(
     test_flake_with_core: FlakeForTest, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(
         [
             "flakes",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_history_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_history_cli.py
index 284c302e..d08b1bb6 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_history_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_history_cli.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 from pytest import CaptureFixture
 
 from clan_cli.dirs import user_history_file
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 def test_history_add(
     test_flake_with_core: FlakeForTest,
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     cmd = [
         "history",
         "add",
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ def test_history_list(
     capsys: CaptureFixture,
     test_flake_with_core: FlakeForTest,
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     cmd = [
         "history",
         "list",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_import_sops_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_import_sops_cli.py
index 52770dfb..1147a5e7 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_import_sops_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_import_sops_cli.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from age_keys import KeyPair
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ def test_import_sops(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
     age_keys: list["KeyPair"],
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
-
     monkeypatch.setenv("SOPS_AGE_KEY", age_keys[1].privkey)
     cli.run(
         [
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_machines_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_machines_cli.py
index 399f0a3a..10c8f22a 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_machines_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_machines_cli.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 
 @pytest.mark.impure
 def test_machine_subcommands(
     test_flake_with_core: FlakeForTest, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(
         ["machines", "create", "--flake", str(test_flake_with_core.path), "machine1"]
     )
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_modules.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_modules.py
index 7c644dd1..72d5c3bc 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_modules.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_modules.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from clan_cli.nix import nix_eval, run_no_stdout
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from age_keys import KeyPair
 
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 from clan_cli.machines.facts import machine_get_fact
 
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ def test_add_module_to_inventory(
     monkeypatch.chdir(test_flake_with_core.path)
     monkeypatch.setenv("SOPS_AGE_KEY", age_keys[0].privkey)
 
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(
         [
             "secrets",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_cli.py
index c1402209..f47fe8eb 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_cli.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 from clan_cli.errors import ClanError
 
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ def _test_identities(
     capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture,
     age_keys: list["KeyPair"],
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     sops_folder = test_flake.path / "sops"
 
     cli.run(
@@ -111,7 +110,6 @@ def test_machines(
 def test_groups(
     test_flake: FlakeForTest, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture, age_keys: list["KeyPair"]
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     capsys.readouterr()  # empty the buffer
     cli.run(["secrets", "groups", "list", "--flake", str(test_flake.path)])
     assert capsys.readouterr().out == ""
@@ -249,7 +247,6 @@ def test_secrets(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
     age_keys: list["KeyPair"],
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     capsys.readouterr()  # empty the buffer
     cli.run(["secrets", "list", "--flake", str(test_flake.path)])
     assert capsys.readouterr().out == ""
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_generate.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_generate.py
index 41ce3436..b301a63d 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_generate.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_generate.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 from helpers.validator import is_valid_age_key, is_valid_ssh_key
 
 from clan_cli.clan_uri import FlakeId
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ def test_generate_secret(
 ) -> None:
     monkeypatch.chdir(test_flake_with_core.path)
     monkeypatch.setenv("SOPS_AGE_KEY", age_keys[0].privkey)
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(
         [
             "secrets",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_password_store.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_password_store.py
index 2f813b1a..80045f73 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_password_store.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_password_store.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 from helpers.validator import is_valid_ssh_key
 
 from clan_cli.clan_uri import FlakeId
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ def test_upload_secret(
         %no-protection
     """
     )
-    cli = Cli()
     subprocess.run(
         nix_shell(
             ["nixpkgs#gnupg"], ["gpg", "--batch", "--gen-key", str(gpg_key_spec)]
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_upload.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_upload.py
index b246f35c..4bfde8ad 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_upload.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_secrets_upload.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 
 from clan_cli.ssh import HostGroup
 
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ def test_secrets_upload(
     monkeypatch.chdir(test_flake_with_core.path)
     monkeypatch.setenv("SOPS_AGE_KEY", age_keys[0].privkey)
 
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(
         [
             "secrets",
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars.py
index 04a141b9..e7ccaf25 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import generate_flake
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 from root import CLAN_CORE
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ def test_generate_secret(
         ),
     )
     monkeypatch.chdir(flake.path)
-    cli = Cli()
     cmd = ["vars", "generate", "--flake", str(flake.path), "my_machine"]
     cli.run(cmd)
     assert (
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
index fa654ce9..03561d41 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vms_cli.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import pytest
 from fixtures_flakes import FlakeForTest, generate_flake
-from helpers.cli import Cli
+from helpers import cli
 from root import CLAN_CORE
 
 from clan_cli.dirs import vm_state_dir
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def run_vm_in_thread(machine_name: str) -> None:
     # runs machine and prints exceptions
     def run() -> None:
         try:
-            Cli().run(["vms", "run", machine_name])
+            cli.run(["vms", "run", machine_name])
         except Exception:
             # print exception details
             print(traceback.format_exc(), file=sys.stderr)
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ def qga_connect(state_dir: Path) -> QgaSession:
 def test_inspect(
     test_flake_with_core: FlakeForTest, capsys: pytest.CaptureFixture
 ) -> None:
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(["vms", "inspect", "--flake", str(test_flake_with_core.path), "vm1"])
     out = capsys.readouterr()  # empty the buffer
     assert "Cores" in out.out
@@ -100,7 +99,6 @@ def test_run(
 ) -> None:
     monkeypatch.chdir(test_flake_with_core.path)
     monkeypatch.setenv("SOPS_AGE_KEY", age_keys[0].privkey)
-    cli = Cli()
     cli.run(
         [
             "secrets",