diff --git a/mindforge.cronjob/internal/git/git.go b/mindforge.cronjob/internal/git/git.go
index 7b8fe82..0220615 100644
--- a/mindforge.cronjob/internal/git/git.go
+++ b/mindforge.cronjob/internal/git/git.go
@@ -32,19 +32,35 @@ func (s *gitService) CheckConnection(url string) error {
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to check git connection: %w", err)
 	}
+	fmt.Println("Git connection checked successfully")
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (s *gitService) FetchContents(url string) error {
 	// Remove the repo directory if it already exists from a previous run
+	fmt.Println("Removing repo directory")
 	_ = os.RemoveAll(s.repoDir)
 
-	cmd := exec.Command("git", "clone", url, s.repoDir)
+	fmt.Println("Cloning repository")
+
+	// check for existing /root/.ssh/id_rsa key
+	useSSH := false
+	if _, err := os.Stat("/root/.ssh/id_rsa"); err == nil {
+		useSSH = true
+	}
+
+	var cmd *exec.Cmd
+	if useSSH {
+		cmd = exec.Command("git", "clone", "-i", "/root/.ssh/id_rsa", url, s.repoDir)
+	} else {
+		cmd = exec.Command("git", "clone", url, s.repoDir)
+	}
 	var stderr bytes.Buffer
 	cmd.Stderr = &stderr
 	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch contents: %w, stderr: %s", err, stderr.String())
 	}
+	fmt.Println("Repository cloned successfully")
 	return nil
 }