diff --git a/pmb/sideload/__init__.py b/pmb/sideload/__init__.py
index ef08db65..8f0f5dde 100644
--- a/pmb/sideload/__init__.py
+++ b/pmb/sideload/__init__.py
@@ -15,13 +15,12 @@ import pmb.build
 from pmb.core.context import get_context
 
 
-def scp_abuild_key(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str, su: str) -> None:
+def scp_abuild_key(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str) -> None:
     """Copy the building key of the local installation to the target device,
     so it trusts the apks that were signed here.
     :param user: target device ssh username
     :param host: target device ssh hostname
-    :param port: target device ssh port
-    :param su: target device su binary"""
+    :param port: target device ssh port"""
 
     keys = list((get_context().config.work / "config_abuild").glob("*.pub"))
     key = keys[0]
@@ -34,7 +33,10 @@ def scp_abuild_key(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str, su: str) -> N
     logging.info(f"Installing signing key at {user}@{host}")
     keyname = os.path.join("/tmp", os.path.basename(key))
     remote_cmd_l: list[PathString] = [
-        su,
+        "sudo",
+        "-p",
+        pmb.config.sideload_sudo_prompt,
+        "-S",
         "mv",
         "-n",
         keyname,
@@ -45,24 +47,6 @@ def scp_abuild_key(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str, su: str) -> N
     pmb.helpers.run.user(command, output="tui")
 
 
-def ssh_find_su(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str) -> str:
-    """Connect to a device via ssh and query the su binary."""
-    logging.info(f"Querying su binary of {user}@{host}")
-    query_doas = shlex.quote("which doas || true")
-    query_sudo = shlex.quote("which sudo || true")
-    command_doas = ["ssh", "-p", port, f"{user}@{host}", f"sh -c {query_doas}"]
-    command_sudo = ["ssh", "-p", port, f"{user}@{host}", f"sh -c {query_sudo}"]
-    output_doas = pmb.helpers.run.user_output(command_doas)
-    output_sudo = pmb.helpers.run.user_output(command_sudo)
-    if output_doas != "":
-        return "doas"
-    elif output_sudo != "":
-        return "sudo"
-    else:
-        logging.error('ERROR: Failed to find supported su binary (tried "doas" and "sudo")')
-        return "error"
-
-
 def ssh_find_arch(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str) -> Arch:
     """Connect to a device via ssh and query the architecture."""
     logging.info(f"Querying architecture of {user}@{host}")
@@ -80,12 +64,11 @@ def ssh_find_arch(args: PmbArgs, user: str, host: str, port: str) -> Arch:
     return alpine_architecture
 
 
-def ssh_install_apks(args: PmbArgs, user, host, port, su: str, paths: list) -> None:
+def ssh_install_apks(args: PmbArgs, user, host, port, paths: list) -> None:
     """Copy binary packages via SCP and install them via SSH.
     :param user: target device ssh username
     :param host: target device ssh hostname
     :param port: target device ssh port
-    :param su: target device su binary
     :param paths: list of absolute paths to locally stored apks
     """
 
@@ -99,7 +82,10 @@ def ssh_install_apks(args: PmbArgs, user, host, port, su: str, paths: list) -> N
 
     logging.info(f"Installing packages at {user}@{host}")
     add_cmd = [
-        su,
+        "sudo",
+        "-p",
+        pmb.config.sideload_sudo_prompt,
+        "-S",
         "apk",
         "--wait",
         "30",
@@ -131,8 +117,6 @@ def sideload(
     if arch is None:
         arch = ssh_find_arch(args, user, host, port)
 
-    su = ssh_find_su(args, user, host, port)
-
     context = get_context()
     to_build = []
     for pkgname in pkgnames:
@@ -152,6 +136,6 @@ def sideload(
                 raise RuntimeError(f"The package '{pkgname}' could not be built")
 
     if copy_key:
-        scp_abuild_key(args, user, host, port, su)
+        scp_abuild_key(args, user, host, port)
 
-    ssh_install_apks(args, user, host, port, su, paths)
+    ssh_install_apks(args, user, host, port, paths)