diff --git a/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/common.rs b/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/common.rs
index 2b5055820a..75988b1d13 100644
--- a/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/common.rs
+++ b/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/common.rs
@@ -21,10 +21,31 @@ use carbide_uuid::rack::RackId;
 use mac_address::MacAddress;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
+#[derive(Debug, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(untagged)]
+enum ExpectedMachineIdJson {
+    String(String),
+    RpcUuid { value: String },
+}
+
+fn deserialize_optional_expected_machine_id<'de, D>(
+    deserializer: D,
+) -> Result<Option<String>, D::Error>
+where
+    D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+{
+    Ok(
+        Option::<ExpectedMachineIdJson>::deserialize(deserializer)?.map(|id| match id {
+            ExpectedMachineIdJson::String(value) => value,
+            ExpectedMachineIdJson::RpcUuid { value } => value,
+        }),
+    )
+}
+
 /// JSON shape for `replace-all` and file-based `update` (field names match gRPC / API `ExpectedMachine`).
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct ExpectedMachineJson {
-    #[serde(default)]
+    #[serde(default, deserialize_with = "deserialize_optional_expected_machine_id")]
     pub id: Option<String>,
     pub bmc_mac_address: MacAddress,
     pub bmc_username: String,
diff --git a/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/tests.rs b/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/tests.rs
index 741b187455..61a5c61c6a 100644
--- a/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/admin-cli/src/expected_machines/tests.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ use carbide_test_support::Outcome::*;
 use carbide_test_support::scenarios;
 use clap::{CommandFactory, Parser};
 
+use super::common::ExpectedMachineJson;
 use super::*;
 
 // verify_cmd_structure runs a baseline clap debug_assert()
@@ -222,6 +223,61 @@ fn parse_replace_all() {
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn expected_machine_json_accepts_missing_id() {
+    let machine: ExpectedMachineJson = serde_json::from_str(
+        r#"{
+            "bmc_mac_address": "00:11:22:33:44:55",
+            "bmc_username": "admin",
+            "bmc_password": "secret",
+            "chassis_serial_number": "SN123"
+        }"#,
+    )
+    .expect("expected machine without id should parse");
+
+    assert_eq!(machine.id, None);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn expected_machine_json_accepts_string_id() {
+    let machine: ExpectedMachineJson = serde_json::from_str(
+        r#"{
+            "id": "123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000",
+            "bmc_mac_address": "00:11:22:33:44:55",
+            "bmc_username": "admin",
+            "bmc_password": "secret",
+            "chassis_serial_number": "SN123"
+        }"#,
+    )
+    .expect("expected machine with string id should parse");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        machine.id.as_deref(),
+        Some("123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000")
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn expected_machine_json_accepts_rpc_uuid_id() {
+    let machine: ExpectedMachineJson = serde_json::from_str(
+        r#"{
+            "id": {
+                "value": "123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000"
+            },
+            "bmc_mac_address": "00:11:22:33:44:55",
+            "bmc_username": "admin",
+            "bmc_password": "secret",
+            "chassis_serial_number": "SN123"
+        }"#,
+    )
+    .expect("expected machine with RPC UUID id should parse");
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        machine.id.as_deref(),
+        Some("123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000")
+    );
+}
+
 // parse_erase ensures erase parses with no arguments.
 #[test]
 fn parse_erase() {