diff --git a/.github/workflows/go.yml b/.github/workflows/go.yml
index c8df9123..5782f704 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/go.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/go.yml
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ jobs:
           OS=Linux ARCH=aarch64 make
 
       - name: upload artifacts
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: artifacts-linux
           path: _output/binaries/
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:
           CGO_ENABLED=1 OS=Darwin ARCH=arm64 make
 
       - name: upload artifacts
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: artifacts-macos
           path: _output/binaries/
@@ -107,11 +107,11 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: artifacts-linux
           path: _output/binaries/
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
+      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: artifacts-macos
           path: _output/binaries/
diff --git a/environment/vm/lima/lima.go b/environment/vm/lima/lima.go
index abd5488c..815b9235 100644
--- a/environment/vm/lima/lima.go
+++ b/environment/vm/lima/lima.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func New(host environment.HostActions) environment.VM {
 	var envs []string
 	envHome := limautil.EnvLimaHome + "=" + limaHome
 	envLimaInstance := envLimaInstance + "=" + config.CurrentProfile().ID
-	envSSHForward := "LIMA_SSH_PORT_FORWARDER=true"
+	envSSHForward := envLimaSSHForwarder + "=" + osutil.EnvVar(envLimaSSHForwarder).ValOr("true")
 	envBinary := osutil.EnvColimaBinary + "=" + osutil.Executable()
 	envs = append(envs, envHome, envLimaInstance, envSSHForward, envBinary)
 
@@ -46,9 +46,10 @@ func New(host environment.HostActions) environment.VM {
 }
 
 const (
-	envLimaInstance = "LIMA_INSTANCE"
-	lima            = "lima"
-	limactl         = limautil.LimactlCommand
+	envLimaInstance     = "LIMA_INSTANCE"
+	envLimaSSHForwarder = "LIMA_SSH_PORT_FORWARDER"
+	lima                = "lima"
+	limactl             = limautil.LimactlCommand
 )
 
 var _ environment.VM = (*limaVM)(nil)
diff --git a/util/osutil/os.go b/util/osutil/os.go
index 220f7480..f16a5bd3 100644
--- a/util/osutil/os.go
+++ b/util/osutil/os.go
@@ -31,6 +31,14 @@ func (e EnvVar) Val() string {
 	return os.Getenv(string(e))
 }
 
+// Or returns the environment variable value if set, otherwise returns val.
+func (e EnvVar) ValOr(val string) string {
+	if v := os.Getenv(string(e)); v != "" {
+		return v
+	}
+	return val
+}
+
 const EnvColimaBinary = "COLIMA_BINARY"
 
 // Executable returns the path name for the executable that started