diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index ada363d..0fc22b4 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -1609,6 +1609,17 @@ EOF
     cp "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.xinitrc" "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.config/xfce4/xinitrc"
     cp "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.xinitrc" "${MOUNT_POINT}/etc/skel/.xinitrc"
     cp "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.xinitrc" "${MOUNT_POINT}/etc/skel/.config/xfce4/xinitrc"
+
+    # Pre-stage mother connectivity key if present on the build host.
+    # Lets the live USB node SSH into the mother server (osa) without
+    # manual key exchange. Public key is already in mother authorized_keys.
+    _mother_key_src="/home/clawdie/.ssh/osa-mother-2026"
+    if [ -f "${_mother_key_src}" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.ssh"
+        cp "${_mother_key_src}" "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.ssh/osa-mother-2026"
+        chmod 0600 "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.ssh/osa-mother-2026"
+        echo "    Staged mother SSH key for USB→mother connectivity."
+    fi
     chmod 0755 \
         "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.xinitrc" \
         "${MOUNT_POINT}/home/clawdie/.config/xfce4/xinitrc" \