diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 96c614c..b2ed947 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ use crate::os_string_builder::ReplaceWithOsStr;
 use crate::server::{RelativeLocalPathAnker, ServerAddress};
 use crate::shell_interface::{ScpParam, ServerCommand, ShellCommand, ShellInterface};
 use clap::{Parser, Subcommand, ValueEnum};
-use lazy_regex::{lazy_regex, Lazy, Regex};
+use lazy_regex::{Lazy, Regex, lazy_regex};
 use server::{Server, ServerReference};
 use std::cell::LazyCell;
 use std::ffi::OsString;
@@ -486,23 +486,36 @@ where
           for file_action in server_actions.actions {
             match file_action.kind {
               Action::Add | Action::Replace => {
-                let source = match &file_server {
-                  Some(file_server) => ScpParam::from((
-                    file_server,
-                    file_server.server_directory_path.join(&file_action.file),
-                  )),
-                  None => ScpParam::from(file_action.file.as_path()),
-                };
-                let destination = ScpParam::from((server, &server_actions.working_directory));
-                scp! {
-                  source,
-                  destination,
+                //don't use scp on localhost
+                if file_server.is_none() && matches!(server.address, ServerAddress::Localhost) {
+                  let file = file_action.file;
+                  let dest = server_actions.working_directory.join(file_action.file_name);
+                  fs::copy(&file, &dest).map_err(|e| {
+                    format!(
+                      "Failed to copy from {} to {}: {e}",
+                      file.to_string_lossy(),
+                      dest.to_string_lossy()
+                    )
+                  })?;
+                } else {
+                  let source = match &file_server {
+                    Some(file_server) => ScpParam::from((
+                      file_server,
+                      file_server.server_directory_path.join(&file_action.file),
+                    )),
+                    None => ScpParam::from(&file_action.file),
+                  };
+                  let destination = ScpParam::from((server, &server_actions.working_directory));
+                  scp! {
+                    source,
+                    destination,
+                  }
+                    .in_env(env!())
+                    .run_logged(&logger)
+                    .and_expect_success()
+                    .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("upload failure: {e}"))?;
                 }
-                .in_env(env!())
-                .run_logged(&logger)
-                .and_expect_success()
-                .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
-                .map_err(|e| format!("upload failure: {e}"))?;
               }
               Action::Delete => match &server.address {
                 ServerAddress::Ssh { ssh_address } => {
@@ -649,24 +662,34 @@ where
 
         for server in servers {
           log!(logger, "Getting file from {}...", server.get_name());
-          let source = ScpParam::from((&server, server.server_directory_path.join(&file)));
-          scp! {
-            source: source.clone(),
-            destination: ScpParam::from(download_directory.as_path()),
+          let file_path = server.server_directory_path.join(&file);
+          let downloaded_file_path = download_directory.join(file_name);
+          if matches!(server.address, ServerAddress::Localhost) {
+            //no need to use scp on localhost
+            fs::copy(&file_path, &downloaded_file_path).map_err(|e| {
+              format!(
+                "failed to copy {} to {}: {e}",
+                file_path.to_string_lossy(),
+                downloaded_file_path.to_string_lossy()
+              )
+            })?;
+          } else {
+            scp! {
+              source: ScpParam::from((&server, &file_path)),
+              destination: ScpParam::from(&download_directory),
+            }
+              .in_env(env!())
+              .run_logged(&logger)
+              .and_expect_success()
+              .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
+              .map_err(|e| format!("download failure: {e}"))?;
           }
-          .in_env(env!())
-          .run_logged(&logger)
-          .and_expect_success()
-          .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
-          .map_err(|e| format!("download failure: {e}"))?;
 
           //open file in editor
           let editor_command = shell_words::split(&editor)
             .map_err(|e| format!("failed to parse editor command: {e}"))?
             .into_iter()
-            .map(|part| {
-              part.replace_with_os_str(FILE_PLACEHOLDER, download_directory.join(file_name))
-            })
+            .map(|part| part.replace_with_os_str(FILE_PLACEHOLDER, &file_path))
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
           ShellCommand::Editor(editor_command)
@@ -676,16 +699,26 @@ where
             .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
             .map_err(|e| format!("failed to open file in editor: {e}"))?;
 
-          //upload file again
-          scp! {
-            source: ScpParam::from(download_directory.join(file_name).as_path()),
-            destination: source,
+          //upload file again; don't use scp on localhost
+          if matches!(server.address, ServerAddress::Localhost) {
+            fs::copy(&downloaded_file_path, &file_path).map_err(|e| {
+              format!(
+                "failed to copy {} to {}: {e}",
+                file_path.to_string_lossy(),
+                download_directory.to_string_lossy()
+              )
+            })?;
+          } else {
+            scp! {
+              source: ScpParam::from(&downloaded_file_path),
+              destination: ScpParam::from((&server, &file_path)),
+            }
+              .in_env(env!())
+              .run_logged(&logger)
+              .and_expect_success()
+              .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
+              .map_err(|e| format!("failed to re-upload file: {e}"))?;
           }
-          .in_env(env!())
-          .run_logged(&logger)
-          .and_expect_success()
-          .into_result_with_error_logging(&logger)
-          .map_err(|e| format!("failed to re-upload file: {e}"))?;
         }
 
         log!(logger, "Done!");
diff --git a/src/shell_interface.rs b/src/shell_interface.rs
index 7407a69..d2a19c1 100644
--- a/src/shell_interface.rs
+++ b/src/shell_interface.rs
@@ -129,6 +129,12 @@ impl From<&Path> for ScpParam {
   }
 }
 
+impl From<&PathBuf> for ScpParam {
+  fn from(value: &PathBuf) -> Self {
+    Self::from(value.as_path())
+  }
+}
+
 impl From<&ScpParam> for OsString {
   fn from(value: &ScpParam) -> Self {
     let mut builder = osf!();