diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index 5cfa6192a..e3f66d3c5 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -41,6 +41,16 @@ func NewServer(cfg *config.Config) (*Server, error) {
 		// Add the initial admin keys to the list of admins.
 		fb.AdditionalAdmins = cfg.InitialAdminKeys
 		cfg = cfg.WithBackend(fb)
+
+		// Create internal key.
+		_, err = keygen.NewWithWrite(
+			filepath.Join(cfg.DataPath, cfg.SSH.InternalKeyPath),
+			nil,
+			keygen.Ed25519,
+		)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	srv := &Server{
diff --git a/ui/pages/selection/selection.go b/ui/pages/selection/selection.go
index bfd1f31f6..944251ebf 100644
--- a/ui/pages/selection/selection.go
+++ b/ui/pages/selection/selection.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/log"
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/soft-serve/server/backend"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/soft-serve/ui/common"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/soft-serve/ui/components/code"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/soft-serve/ui/components/selector"
@@ -182,23 +183,30 @@ func (s *Selection) FullHelp() [][]key.Binding {
 func (s *Selection) Init() tea.Cmd {
 	var readmeCmd tea.Cmd
 	cfg := s.common.Config()
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	pk := s.common.PublicKey()
-	if cfg == nil || pk == nil {
+	if pk == nil && !cfg.Backend.AllowKeyless() {
 		return nil
 	}
+
 	repos, err := cfg.Backend.Repositories()
 	if err != nil {
 		return common.ErrorCmd(err)
 	}
 	sortedItems := make(Items, 0)
-	// Put configured repos first
 	for _, r := range repos {
-		item, err := NewItem(r, cfg)
-		if err != nil {
-			logger.Debugf("ui: failed to create item for %s: %v", r.Name(), err)
-			continue
+		al := cfg.Backend.AccessLevel(r.Name(), pk)
+		if al >= backend.ReadOnlyAccess {
+			item, err := NewItem(r, cfg)
+			if err != nil {
+				logger.Debugf("ui: failed to create item for %s: %v", r.Name(), err)
+				continue
+			}
+			sortedItems = append(sortedItems, item)
 		}
-		sortedItems = append(sortedItems, item)
 	}
 	sort.Sort(sortedItems)
 	items := make([]selector.IdentifiableItem, len(sortedItems))