diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 8a70e9c8..bd4ce56c 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ classifiers = [
 ]
 dependencies = [
     "aiohttp>=3.8.3",
-    "aleph-message~=0.4.4",
+    "aleph-message>=0.4.7",
     "coincurve; python_version<\"3.11\"",
     "coincurve>=19.0.0; python_version>=\"3.11\"",
     "eth_abi>=4.0.0; python_version>=\"3.11\"",
diff --git a/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py b/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py
index 60d42b2b..6d44b526 100644
--- a/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py
+++ b/src/aleph/sdk/client/authenticated_http.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 from aleph_message.models.execution.environment import (
     FunctionEnvironment,
     HypervisorType,
+    InstanceEnvironment,
     MachineResources,
 )
 from aleph_message.models.execution.instance import RootfsVolume
@@ -534,16 +535,17 @@ async def create_instance(
         timeout_seconds = timeout_seconds or settings.DEFAULT_VM_TIMEOUT
 
         payment = payment or Payment(chain=Chain.ETH, type=PaymentType.hold)
-        hypervisor = hypervisor or HypervisorType.firecracker
+
+        # Default to the QEMU hypervisor for instances.
+        selected_hypervisor: HypervisorType = hypervisor or HypervisorType.qemu
 
         content = InstanceContent(
             address=address,
             allow_amend=allow_amend,
-            environment=FunctionEnvironment(
-                reproducible=False,
+            environment=InstanceEnvironment(
                 internet=internet,
                 aleph_api=aleph_api,
-                hypervisor=hypervisor,
+                hypervisor=selected_hypervisor,
             ),
             variables=environment_variables,
             resources=MachineResources(
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py b/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py
index 0fa0df38..0f909408 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_asynchronous.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ async def test_create_instance_no_hypervisor(mock_session_with_post_success):
             hypervisor=None,
         )
 
-    assert instance_message.content.environment.hypervisor == HypervisorType.firecracker
+    assert instance_message.content.environment.hypervisor == HypervisorType.qemu
 
     assert mock_session_with_post_success.http_session.post.assert_called_once
     assert isinstance(instance_message, InstanceMessage)