diff --git a/src/dfx-core/src/error/root_key.rs b/src/dfx-core/src/error/root_key.rs
index eb8f760896..16d0f679c9 100644
--- a/src/dfx-core/src/error/root_key.rs
+++ b/src/dfx-core/src/error/root_key.rs
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ pub enum FetchRootKeyError {
     AgentError(#[from] ic_agent::AgentError),
 
     #[error("This command only runs on local instances. Cannot run this on the real IC.")]
-    NetworkMustBeLocal,
+    MustNotFetchRootKeyOnMainnet,
 }
diff --git a/src/dfx-core/src/network/root_key.rs b/src/dfx-core/src/network/root_key.rs
index 54f0b1275b..55e891419a 100644
--- a/src/dfx-core/src/network/root_key.rs
+++ b/src/dfx-core/src/network/root_key.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,17 @@ use crate::{
 };
 use ic_agent::Agent;
 
+#[deprecated(note = "use fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet() instead")]
 pub async fn fetch_root_key_when_local(
     agent: &Agent,
     network: &NetworkDescriptor,
+) -> Result<(), FetchRootKeyError> {
+    fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet(agent, network).await
+}
+
+pub async fn fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet(
+    agent: &Agent,
+    network: &NetworkDescriptor,
 ) -> Result<(), FetchRootKeyError> {
     if !network.is_ic {
         agent
@@ -16,9 +24,17 @@ pub async fn fetch_root_key_when_local(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[deprecated(note = "use fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet_or_error() instead")]
 pub async fn fetch_root_key_when_local_or_error(
     agent: &Agent,
     network: &NetworkDescriptor,
+) -> Result<(), FetchRootKeyError> {
+    fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet_or_error(agent, network).await
+}
+
+pub async fn fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet_or_error(
+    agent: &Agent,
+    network: &NetworkDescriptor,
 ) -> Result<(), FetchRootKeyError> {
     if !network.is_ic {
         agent
@@ -26,6 +42,6 @@ pub async fn fetch_root_key_when_local_or_error(
             .await
             .map_err(FetchRootKeyError::AgentError)
     } else {
-        Err(FetchRootKeyError::NetworkMustBeLocal)
+        Err(FetchRootKeyError::MustNotFetchRootKeyOnMainnet)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/dfx/src/lib/root_key.rs b/src/dfx/src/lib/root_key.rs
index 5b7cd486cd..6fda3a4b5c 100644
--- a/src/dfx/src/lib/root_key.rs
+++ b/src/dfx/src/lib/root_key.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use dfx_core::network::root_key;
 pub async fn fetch_root_key_if_needed(env: &dyn Environment) -> DfxResult {
     let agent = env.get_agent();
     let network = env.get_network_descriptor();
-    root_key::fetch_root_key_when_local(agent, network).await?;
+    root_key::fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet(agent, network).await?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ pub async fn fetch_root_key_if_needed(env: &dyn Environment) -> DfxResult {
 pub async fn fetch_root_key_or_anyhow(env: &dyn Environment) -> DfxResult {
     let agent = env.get_agent();
     let network = env.get_network_descriptor();
-    root_key::fetch_root_key_when_local_or_error(agent, network).await?;
+    root_key::fetch_root_key_when_non_mainnet_or_error(agent, network).await?;
     Ok(())
 }