diff --git a/internal/cli/banger.go b/internal/cli/banger.go
index a55e934..fa313f2 100644
--- a/internal/cli/banger.go
+++ b/internal/cli/banger.go
@@ -1135,7 +1135,7 @@ func newVMSSHCommand() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			return runSSHSession(cmd.Context(), layout.SocketPath, result.Name, cmd.InOrStdin(), cmd.OutOrStdout(), cmd.ErrOrStderr(), sshArgs)
+			return runSSHSession(cmd.Context(), layout.SocketPath, result.Name, cmd.InOrStdin(), cmd.OutOrStdout(), cmd.ErrOrStderr(), sshArgs, false)
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -2475,9 +2475,9 @@ func validatePositiveSetting(label string, value int) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func runSSHSession(ctx context.Context, socketPath, vmRef string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer, sshArgs []string) error {
+func runSSHSession(ctx context.Context, socketPath, vmRef string, stdin io.Reader, stdout, stderr io.Writer, sshArgs []string, skipReminder bool) error {
 	sshErr := sshExecFunc(ctx, stdin, stdout, stderr, sshArgs)
-	if !shouldCheckSSHReminder(sshErr) || ctx.Err() != nil {
+	if skipReminder || !shouldCheckSSHReminder(sshErr) || ctx.Err() != nil {
 		return sshErr
 	}
 	pingCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 3*time.Second)
@@ -2890,7 +2890,7 @@ func runVMRun(ctx context.Context, socketPath string, cfg model.DaemonConfig, st
 		return nil
 	}
 	progress.render("attaching to guest")
-	return runSSHSession(ctx, socketPath, vmRef, stdin, stdout, stderr, sshArgs)
+	return runSSHSession(ctx, socketPath, vmRef, stdin, stdout, stderr, sshArgs, removeOnExit)
 }
 
 func importVMRunRepoToGuest(ctx context.Context, client vmRunGuestClient, spec vmRunRepoSpec, progress *vmRunProgressRenderer) error {
diff --git a/internal/cli/cli_test.go b/internal/cli/cli_test.go
index 3711320..469f790 100644
--- a/internal/cli/cli_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/cli_test.go
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ func TestRunSSHSessionPrintsReminderWhenHealthCheckPasses(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
-	if err := runSSHSession(context.Background(), "/tmp/bangerd.sock", "devbox", strings.NewReader(""), &bytes.Buffer{}, &stderr, []string{"root@127.0.0.1"}); err != nil {
+	if err := runSSHSession(context.Background(), "/tmp/bangerd.sock", "devbox", strings.NewReader(""), &bytes.Buffer{}, &stderr, []string{"root@127.0.0.1"}, false); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("runSSHSession: %v", err)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "devbox is still running") {
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ func TestRunSSHSessionPreservesSSHExitStatusOnHealthWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
-	err := runSSHSession(context.Background(), "/tmp/bangerd.sock", "devbox", strings.NewReader(""), &bytes.Buffer{}, &stderr, []string{"root@127.0.0.1"})
+	err := runSSHSession(context.Background(), "/tmp/bangerd.sock", "devbox", strings.NewReader(""), &bytes.Buffer{}, &stderr, []string{"root@127.0.0.1"}, false)
 	var exitErr *exec.ExitError
 	if !errors.As(err, &exitErr) {
 		t.Fatalf("runSSHSession error = %v, want exit error", err)
@@ -890,7 +890,7 @@ func TestRunSSHSessionSkipsReminderOnSSHAuthFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
-	err := runSSHSession(context.Background(), "/tmp/bangerd.sock", "devbox", strings.NewReader(""), &bytes.Buffer{}, &stderr, []string{"root@127.0.0.1"})
+	err := runSSHSession(context.Background(), "/tmp/bangerd.sock", "devbox", strings.NewReader(""), &bytes.Buffer{}, &stderr, []string{"root@127.0.0.1"}, false)
 	var exitErr *exec.ExitError
 	if !errors.As(err, &exitErr) || exitErr.ExitCode() != 255 {
 		t.Fatalf("runSSHSession error = %v, want exit 255", err)
@@ -1670,6 +1670,11 @@ func TestRunVMRunRMDeletesAfterSessionExits(t *testing.T) {
 	if deletedRef != "tmpbox" {
 		t.Fatalf("deletedRef = %q, want tmpbox", deletedRef)
 	}
+	// The "VM is still running" reminder would be misleading when
+	// the VM is about to be deleted; it must be suppressed.
+	if strings.Contains(stderr.String(), "is still running") {
+		t.Fatalf("stderr = %q, should not print still-running reminder under --rm", stderr.String())
+	}
 }
 
 func TestRunVMRunRMSkipsDeleteOnSSHWaitTimeout(t *testing.T) {