diff --git a/utils/R/run-make b/utils/R/run-make
index 3a2870c2c..8f24fb08b 100755
--- a/utils/R/run-make
+++ b/utils/R/run-make
@@ -7,11 +7,16 @@ is_set() {
 umask 0022
 
 export INLA_MAC=${INLA_MAC-"rueh@kw-16659.kaust.edu.sa"}
+export INLA_MAC_PORT=${INLA_MAC_PORT-"22"}
+
 export INLA_MAC_ARM64=${INLA_MAC_ARM64-"rueh@kw-18302.kaust.edu.sa"}
+export INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT=${INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT-"22"}
 
 export INLA_LINUX=hrue@localhost
 export INLA_LINUX_PORT=2222
+
 export INLA_WINDOWS=hrue@localhost
+export INLA_WINDOWS_PORT=${INLA_WINDOWS_PORT-"22"}
 
 output () {
     echo "$0: $@"
@@ -37,13 +42,20 @@ else
 fi
 
 export INLA_VERSION=$(echo $INLA_TAG | awk -F_ '{print $2}')
+output INLA_TAG=$INLA_TAG
+output INLA_VERSION=$INLA_VERSION
+
 output INLA_MAC=$INLA_MAC
+output INLA_MAC_PORT=$INLA_MAC_PORT
+
 output INLA_MAC_ARM64=$INLA_MAC_ARM64
+output INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT=$INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT
+
 output INLA_LINUX=$INLA_LINUX
 output INLA_LINUX_PORT=$INLA_LINUX_POT
+
 output INLA_WINDOWS=$INLA_WINDOWS
-output INLA_TAG=$INLA_TAG
-output INLA_VERSION=$INLA_VERSION
+output INLA_WINDOWS_PORT=$INLA_WINDOWS_PORT
 
 shift 1
 exec make -f Makefile "$@"
diff --git a/utils/R/updateBin b/utils/R/updateBin
index b90c4af59..658462cca 100755
--- a/utils/R/updateBin
+++ b/utils/R/updateBin
@@ -18,15 +18,15 @@ fix-perm () {
 for m in 64; do
     DIR=$d/mac/${m}bit
     for p in inla fmesher; do 
-	for f in $(ssh -x $INLA_MAC bin/my.otool builds/build$m/local/bin/$p) builds/build$m/local/bin/$p; do
+	for f in $(ssh -x -p $INLA_MAC_PORT $INLA_MAC bin/my.otool builds/build$m/local/bin/$p) builds/build$m/local/bin/$p; do
 	    echo sync $f
 	    for i in {1..10}; do
-		rsync -auvL $INLA_MAC:$f $DIR/. && break
+		rsync --rsh="ssh -x -p $INLA_MAC_PORT" -auvL $INLA_MAC:$f $DIR/. && break
 		sleep 2
 	    done
 	done
     done
-    rsync -auvL $INLA_MAC:builds/build$m/external-packages/external $DIR/.
+    rsync --rsh="ssh -x -p $INLA_MAC_PORT" -auvL $INLA_MAC:builds/build$m/external-packages/external $DIR/.
     fix-perm $DIR
     ## those we like be be first
     for f in $DIR/lib*malloc.*; do 
@@ -37,15 +37,15 @@ done
 for m in Something; do
     DIR=$d/mac.arm64
     for p in inla fmesher; do 
-	for f in $(ssh -x $INLA_MAC_ARM64 bin/my.otool builds/arm64/local/bin/$p) builds/arm64/local/bin/$p; do
+	for f in $(ssh -x -p $INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT $INLA_MAC_ARM64 bin/my.otool builds/arm64/local/bin/$p) builds/arm64/local/bin/$p; do
 	    echo sync $f
 	    for i in {1..10}; do
-		rsync -auvL $INLA_MAC_ARM64:$f $DIR/. && break
+		rsync --rsh="ssh -x -p $INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT" -auvL $INLA_MAC_ARM64:$f $DIR/. && break
 		sleep 2
 	    done
 	done
     done
-    rsync -auvL $INLA_MAC_ARM64:builds/arm64/external-packages/external $DIR/.
+    rsync --rsh="ssh -x -p $INLA_MAC_ARM64_PORT" -auvL $INLA_MAC_ARM64:builds/arm64/external-packages/external $DIR/.
     fix-perm $DIR
     for f in $DIR/lib*malloc.*; do 
 	test -f "$f" && mv -f -v "$f"  $DIR/malloc
@@ -83,14 +83,14 @@ done
 for m in 64; do
     DIR=$d/windows/${m}bit
     for p in inla fmesher; do 
-	for f in $(ssh -x $INLA_WINDOWS bin/my.objdump builds/windows$m/local/bin/$p.exe) builds/windows$m/local/bin/$p.exe; do
+	for f in $(ssh -x -p $INLA_WINDOWS_PORT $INLA_WINDOWS bin/my.objdump builds/windows$m/local/bin/$p.exe) builds/windows$m/local/bin/$p.exe; do
 	    echo sync $f
 	    for i in {1..10}; do
-		rsync --rsh="ssh -x" -auvL $INLA_WINDOWS:$f $DIR/. && break
+		rsync --rsh="ssh -x -p $INLA_WINDOWS_PORT" -auvL $INLA_WINDOWS:$f $DIR/. && break
 	    done
 	done
     done
-    rsync --rsh="ssh -x" -auvL $INLA_WINDOWS:builds/windows$m/external-packages/external $DIR/.
+    rsync --rsh="ssh -x -p $INLA_WINDOWS_PORT" -auvL $INLA_WINDOWS:builds/windows$m/external-packages/external $DIR/.
     fix-perm $DIR
 done