diff --git a/pkg/cmd/portforward/portforward.go b/pkg/cmd/portforward/portforward.go
index 3aefbd5c..6083132d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/portforward/portforward.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/portforward/portforward.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func NewCmdPortForwardSSH(pfStore PortforwardStore, t *terminal.Terminal) *cobra
 			if port == "" {
 				port = startInput(t)
 			}
-			err := RunPortforward(pfStore, args[0], port. useHost)
+			err := RunPortforward(pfStore, args[0], port, useHost)
 			if err != nil {
 				return breverrors.WrapAndTrace(err)
 			}
@@ -108,21 +108,37 @@ func ConvertNametoSSHName(store PortforwardStore, workspaceNameOrID string, useH
 }
 
 func RunSSHPortForward(forwardType string, localPort string, remotePort string, sshName string) (*os.Process, error) {
-	signals := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
-	signal.Notify(signals, os.Interrupt)
-	defer signal.Stop(signals)
-
-	portMapping := fmt.Sprintf("%s:127.0.0.1:%s", localPort, remotePort)
-	cmdSHH := exec.Command("ssh", "-T", forwardType, portMapping, sshName, "-N") //nolint:gosec // variables are sanitzed or user specified
-	cmdSHH.Stdin = os.Stdin
-	fmt.Println("portforwarding...")
-	fmt.Printf("localhost:%s -> %s:%s\n", localPort, sshName, remotePort)
-	out, err := cmdSHH.CombinedOutput()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, breverrors.Wrap(err, string(out))
-	}
+    signals := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+    signal.Notify(signals, os.Interrupt)
+    defer signal.Stop(signals)
+
+    portMapping := fmt.Sprintf("%s:127.0.0.1:%s", localPort, remotePort)
+
+    homeDir, err := os.UserHomeDir()
+    if err != nil {
+        return nil, breverrors.Wrap(err, "failed to get user home directory")
+    }
+
+    keyPath := filepath.Join(homeDir, ".brev", "brev.pem")
+
+    if _, err := os.Stat(keyPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+        return nil, breverrors.Wrap(err, fmt.Sprintf("SSH key not found at %s. Please ensure your Brev SSH key is properly set up.", keyPath))
+    }
+
+    cmdSHH := exec.Command("ssh", "-i", keyPath, "-T", forwardType, portMapping, sshName, "-N")
+    cmdSHH.Stdin = os.Stdin
+    cmdSHH.Stdout = os.Stdout
+    cmdSHH.Stderr = os.Stderr
+
+    fmt.Println("Port forwarding...")
+    fmt.Printf("localhost:%s -> %s:%s\n", localPort, sshName, remotePort)
+
+    err = cmdSHH.Start()
+    if err != nil {
+        return nil, breverrors.Wrap(err, "Failed to start SSH command")
+    }
 
-	return cmdSHH.Process, nil
+    return cmdSHH.Process, nil
 }
 
 func startInput(t *terminal.Terminal) string {