Hello, AFAIK in the current stable version of apt (0.8.10.3+squeeze1) the functionality requested in this report can be achieved by something like this: sudo apt-key adv --keyserver pool.sks-keyservers.net --recv-key 1285491434D8786F This will effectively download and install the key id 1285491434D8786F in the apt keyring from the key server pool.sks-keyservers.net. Maybe this bug can be closed ? Cheers. -- Carlos Ramos