diff --git a/cmd/createcluster.go b/cmd/createcluster.go
index fbe0e81cc..dd44993ff 100644
--- a/cmd/createcluster.go
+++ b/cmd/createcluster.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func bindClusterFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet, config *clusterConfig) {
 	flags.StringSliceVar(&config.FeeRecipientAddrs, "fee-recipient-addresses", nil, "Comma separated list of Ethereum addresses of the fee recipient for each validator. Either provide a single fee recipient address or fee recipient addresses for each validator.")
 	flags.StringSliceVar(&config.WithdrawalAddrs, "withdrawal-addresses", nil, "Comma separated list of Ethereum addresses to receive the returned stake and accrued rewards for each validator. Either provide a single withdrawal address or withdrawal addresses for each validator.")
 	flags.IntVar(&config.NumDVs, "num-validators", 0, "The number of distributed validators needed in the cluster.")
-	flags.BoolVar(&config.SplitKeys, "split-existing-keys", false, "Split an existing validator's private key into a set of distributed validator private key shares. Does not re-create deposit data for this key.")
+	flags.BoolVar(&config.SplitKeys, "split-existing-keys", false, "Split an existing validator's private key into a set of distributed validator private key shares. Deposit data files are re-created using the provided withdrawal addresses; do not submit deposits for validators that are already active.")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.SplitKeysDir, "split-keys-dir", "", "Directory containing keys to split. Expects keys in keystore-*.json and passwords in keystore-*.txt. Requires --split-existing-keys.")
 	flags.StringVar(&config.PublishAddr, "publish-address", "https://api.obol.tech/v1", "The URL to publish the lock file to.")
 	flags.BoolVar(&config.Publish, "publish", false, "Publish lock file to obol-api.")
@@ -198,7 +198,14 @@ func runCreateCluster(ctx context.Context, w io.Writer, conf clusterConfig) erro
 	// If SplitKeys wasn't set, we wouldn't have reached this part of code because validateCreateConfig()
 	// would've already errored.
 	if conf.SplitKeys {
-		useSequencedKeys := len(conf.WithdrawalAddrs) > 1
+		// Load keys in strict file index order when per-validator addresses may differ,
+		// so that keystore-N.json is paired with the Nth withdrawal and fee recipient address.
+		useSequencedKeys := len(conf.WithdrawalAddrs) > 1 || len(conf.FeeRecipientAddrs) > 1
+		if conf.DefFile != "" {
+			// A definition file replicates a single provided address for each validator,
+			// so only distinct addresses require strict key file ordering.
+			useSequencedKeys = hasDistinctAddrs(def.WithdrawalAddresses()) || hasDistinctAddrs(def.FeeRecipientAddresses())
+		}
 
 		secrets, err = getKeys(conf.SplitKeysDir, useSequencedKeys)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -421,10 +428,8 @@ func validateCreateConfig(ctx context.Context, conf clusterConfig) error {
 		if conf.NumDVs != 0 {
 			return errors.New("--num-validators not supported with --split-existing-keys, fix configuration flags")
 		}
-	} else {
-		if conf.NumDVs == 0 && conf.DefFile == "" { // if there's a definition file, infer this value from it later
-			return errors.New("missing --num-validators flag")
-		}
+	} else if conf.NumDVs == 0 && conf.DefFile == "" { // if there's a definition file, infer this value from it later
+		return errors.New("missing --num-validators flag")
 	}
 
 	// Don't allow cluster size to be less than 3.
@@ -615,7 +620,7 @@ func writeWarning(w io.Writer) {
 	_, _ = sb.WriteString("\n")
 	_, _ = sb.WriteString("***************** WARNING: Splitting keys **********************\n")
 	_, _ = sb.WriteString(" Please make sure any existing validator has been shut down for\n")
-	_, _ = sb.WriteString(" at least 2 finalised epochs before starting the charon cluster,\n")
+	_, _ = sb.WriteString(" at least 2 finalized epochs before starting the charon cluster,\n")
 	_, _ = sb.WriteString(" otherwise slashing could occur.                               \n")
 	_, _ = sb.WriteString("****************************************************************\n")
 	_, _ = sb.WriteString("\n")
@@ -1172,6 +1177,17 @@ func writeLockToAPI(ctx context.Context, publishAddr string, lock cluster.Lock)
 	return cl.LaunchpadURLForLock(lock), nil
 }
 
+// hasDistinctAddrs returns true if addrs contains more than one distinct address (ignoring case).
+func hasDistinctAddrs(addrs []string) bool {
+	for _, addr := range addrs {
+		if !strings.EqualFold(addr, addrs[0]) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 // validateAddresses checks if we have sufficient addresses. It also fills addresses slices if only one is provided.
 //
 //nolint:revive // Not really confusing here as they are passed as arguments as well.
diff --git a/cmd/createcluster_internal_test.go b/cmd/createcluster_internal_test.go
index fa55b5192..b76f49b32 100644
--- a/cmd/createcluster_internal_test.go
+++ b/cmd/createcluster_internal_test.go
@@ -554,6 +554,7 @@ func TestSplitKeys(t *testing.T) {
 		name           string
 		numSplitKeys   int
 		conf           clusterConfig
+		expectKeyOrder bool
 		expectedErrMsg string
 	}{
 		{
@@ -578,6 +579,19 @@ func TestSplitKeys(t *testing.T) {
 				ClusterDir:        t.TempDir(),
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name:         "split keys with distinct fee recipient addresses",
+			numSplitKeys: 3,
+			conf: clusterConfig{
+				Name:              "test split keys",
+				NumNodes:          minNodes,
+				Threshold:         3,
+				FeeRecipientAddrs: []string{testutil.RandomETHAddress(), testutil.RandomETHAddress(), testutil.RandomETHAddress()},
+				WithdrawalAddrs:   []string{zeroAddress},
+				ClusterDir:        t.TempDir(),
+			},
+			expectKeyOrder: true,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
@@ -620,6 +634,16 @@ func TestSplitKeys(t *testing.T) {
 				require.NoError(t, lock.VerifySignatures(nil))
 
 				require.Equal(t, test.numSplitKeys, lock.NumValidators)
+
+				if test.expectKeyOrder {
+					// With per-validator addresses, keystore-N.json must map to the Nth validator
+					// so that fee recipient and withdrawal addresses are paired correctly.
+					for i, key := range keys {
+						pubkey, err := tbls.SecretToPublicKey(key)
+						require.NoError(t, err)
+						require.Equal(t, "0x"+hex.EncodeToString(pubkey[:]), lock.Validators[i].PublicKeyHex())
+					}
+				}
 			}
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_output.golden b/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_output.golden
index ba3613c72..8e51f80a0 100644
--- a/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_output.golden
+++ b/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_output.golden
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 ***************** WARNING: Splitting keys **********************
  Please make sure any existing validator has been shut down for
- at least 2 finalised epochs before starting the charon cluster,
+ at least 2 finalized epochs before starting the charon cluster,
  otherwise slashing could occur.                               
 ****************************************************************
 
diff --git a/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_with_cluster_definition_output.golden b/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_with_cluster_definition_output.golden
index ba3613c72..8e51f80a0 100644
--- a/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_with_cluster_definition_output.golden
+++ b/cmd/testdata/TestCreateCluster_splitkeys_with_cluster_definition_output.golden
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 
 ***************** WARNING: Splitting keys **********************
  Please make sure any existing validator has been shut down for
- at least 2 finalised epochs before starting the charon cluster,
+ at least 2 finalized epochs before starting the charon cluster,
  otherwise slashing could occur.                               
 ****************************************************************