diff --git a/.github/scripts/prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh b/.github/scripts/prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh
index 355405e..ce65ce4 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh
@@ -70,9 +70,19 @@ write_prewarm_vagrantfile() {
     printf '%s\n' "Vagrant.configure('2') do |config|"
     printf '  config.vm.box = "%s"\n' "$box"
     printf '  config.vm.box_version = "%s"\n' "$version"
+    # generic/ubuntu2204 does not accept Vagrant's bundled insecure key.
+    # Match the repository's Molecule connection settings for the short-lived
+    # prewarm clone so Vagrant can record its linked-clone master.
+    if [[ "$box" == 'generic/ubuntu2204' ]]; then
+      printf '%s\n' \
+        '  config.ssh.username = "vagrant"' \
+        '  config.ssh.password = "vagrant"' \
+        '  config.ssh.insert_key = false'
+    fi
     printf '%s\n' \
       '  config.vm.synced_folder ".", "/vagrant", disabled: true' \
       '  config.vm.hostname = "k3s-ansible-box-prewarm"' \
+      '  config.vm.boot_timeout = 600' \
       '  config.vm.provider "virtualbox" do |virtualbox|' \
       '    virtualbox.linked_clone = true' \
       '    virtualbox.memory = 512' \
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-fixtures/mock-vagrant b/.github/scripts/test-fixtures/mock-vagrant
index c9a11c7..5b08bab 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-fixtures/mock-vagrant
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-fixtures/mock-vagrant
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ set -Eeuo pipefail
 printf '%s\n' "$*" >> "$MOCK_VAGRANT_LOG"
 case "${1:-}" in
   up)
+    if [[ -n "${MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE:-}" ]]; then
+      cp -- "$VAGRANT_CWD/Vagrantfile" "$MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE"
+    fi
     counter_file="$MOCK_VBOX_STATE/counter"
     counter=0
     [[ ! -r "$counter_file" ]] || counter="$(cat "$counter_file")"
diff --git a/.github/scripts/test-prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh b/.github/scripts/test-prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh
index 2aaa04d..a3b857e 100755
--- a/.github/scripts/test-prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh
+++ b/.github/scripts/test-prepare-vagrant-box-masters.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ export MOCK_VBOX_ROOT="$mock_vbox_root"
 export MOCK_BOX_DIR="$mock_box_dir"
 export MOCK_VBOX_LOG="$fixture/vbox.log"
 export MOCK_VAGRANT_LOG="$fixture/vagrant.log"
+export MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE="$fixture/prewarm-Vagrantfile"
 : > "$MOCK_VBOX_LOG"
 : > "$MOCK_VAGRANT_LOG"
 
@@ -44,6 +45,10 @@ second_output="$fixture/second-output"
 third_output="$fixture/third-output"
 
 "$script" > "$first_output"
+grep -Fq 'config.ssh.username = "vagrant"' "$MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE"
+grep -Fq 'config.ssh.password = "vagrant"' "$MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE"
+grep -Fq 'config.ssh.insert_key = false' "$MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE"
+grep -Fq 'config.vm.boot_timeout = 600' "$MOCK_VAGRANTFILE_CAPTURE"
 mapping_file="$mock_master_root/generic_ubuntu2204-4.3.12-amd64.uuid"
 test -s "$mapping_file"
 cmp -s "$mapping_file" "$mock_box_dir/master_id"