diff --git a/src/netsleuth/models.py b/src/netsleuth/models.py
index 7430741..5a2111f 100644
--- a/src/netsleuth/models.py
+++ b/src/netsleuth/models.py
@@ -268,6 +268,14 @@ class PingResult:
     samples: list[float | None] = field(default_factory=list)
 
 
+@dataclass
+class TraceConfig:
+    target: str
+    resolved_ip: str | None
+    backend: str = "system_traceroute"
+    max_hops: int = 30
+
+
 @dataclass
 class TraceHop:
     ttl: int
diff --git a/src/netsleuth/probes/traceroute.py b/src/netsleuth/probes/traceroute.py
index 437c669..4c19c67 100644
--- a/src/netsleuth/probes/traceroute.py
+++ b/src/netsleuth/probes/traceroute.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import shutil
 import threading
 from typing import Awaitable, Callable, TypeVar
 
-from netsleuth.models import Capabilities, TraceHop, TraceResult
+from netsleuth.models import Capabilities, TraceConfig, TraceHop, TraceResult
 from netsleuth.probes.icmp_win import IcmpReply, classify_status
 from netsleuth.traceparse import build_trace_result, finalize_hop
 
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ async def _tier_system(
     os_name = platform.system()
     args = trace_argv("system_traceroute", binary, target, max_hops, 1, os_name, source_ip)
     text = await _run(args, timeout)
-    return build_trace_result(text, os_name, target=target, resolved_ip=None, max_hops=max_hops)
+    config = TraceConfig(target=target, resolved_ip=None, max_hops=max_hops)
+    return build_trace_result(text, os_name, config)
 
 
 async def _tier_tcp_trace(
diff --git a/src/netsleuth/traceparse.py b/src/netsleuth/traceparse.py
index 5065fff..6de15e8 100644
--- a/src/netsleuth/traceparse.py
+++ b/src/netsleuth/traceparse.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import re
 
-from netsleuth.models import TraceHop, TraceResult
+from netsleuth.models import TraceConfig, TraceHop, TraceResult
 from netsleuth.stats import rtt_stats
 
 IPV4_RE = re.compile(r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b")
@@ -160,18 +160,15 @@ def parse_traceroute(text: str, os_name: str) -> list[TraceHop]:
 def build_trace_result(
     text: str,
     os_name: str,
-    target: str,
-    resolved_ip: str | None,
-    backend: str = "system_traceroute",
-    max_hops: int = 30,
+    config: TraceConfig,
 ) -> TraceResult:
     hops = parse_traceroute(text, os_name)
-    completed = bool(hops and resolved_ip and hops[-1].ip == resolved_ip)
-    max_hops_reached = bool(hops) and not completed and hops[-1].ttl >= max_hops
+    completed = bool(hops and config.resolved_ip and hops[-1].ip == config.resolved_ip)
+    max_hops_reached = bool(hops) and not completed and hops[-1].ttl >= config.max_hops
     return TraceResult(
-        target=target,
-        resolved_ip=resolved_ip,
-        backend=backend,
+        target=config.target,
+        resolved_ip=config.resolved_ip,
+        backend=config.backend,
         hops=hops,
         cycles=1,
         completed=completed,
diff --git a/tests/test_traceparse.py b/tests/test_traceparse.py
index 283f0fa..d085edd 100644
--- a/tests/test_traceparse.py
+++ b/tests/test_traceparse.py
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ def test_darwin_parser_tolerates_empty_input():
     assert parse_darwin("") == []
 
 
+from netsleuth.models import TraceConfig
 from netsleuth.traceparse import build_trace_result, parse_traceroute
 
 
@@ -206,9 +207,11 @@ def test_build_trace_result_marks_completion_when_the_target_is_reached(trace_fi
     result = build_trace_result(
         trace_fixture("linux", "gnu_basic.txt"),
         "Linux",
-        target="1.1.1.1",
-        resolved_ip="1.1.1.1",
-        max_hops=30,
+        TraceConfig(
+            target="1.1.1.1",
+            resolved_ip="1.1.1.1",
+            max_hops=30,
+        ),
     )
     assert result.completed is True
     assert result.max_hops_reached is False
@@ -221,9 +224,11 @@ def test_build_trace_result_flags_a_run_that_died_at_max_hops(trace_fixture):
     result = build_trace_result(
         trace_fixture("linux", "gnu_maxhops.txt"),
         "Linux",
-        target="203.0.113.200",
-        resolved_ip="203.0.113.200",
-        max_hops=5,
+        TraceConfig(
+            target="203.0.113.200",
+            resolved_ip="203.0.113.200",
+            max_hops=5,
+        ),
     )
     assert result.completed is False
     assert result.max_hops_reached is True
@@ -233,16 +238,18 @@ def test_build_trace_result_is_not_complete_when_the_last_hop_is_a_different_hos
     result = build_trace_result(
         trace_fixture("linux", "gnu_unreachable.txt"),
         "Linux",
-        target="203.0.113.9",
-        resolved_ip="203.0.113.9",
-        max_hops=30,
+        TraceConfig(
+            target="203.0.113.9",
+            resolved_ip="203.0.113.9",
+            max_hops=30,
+        ),
     )
     assert result.completed is False
     assert result.max_hops_reached is False
 
 
 def test_build_trace_result_on_empty_output_is_a_well_formed_empty_result():
-    result = build_trace_result("", "Linux", target="1.1.1.1", resolved_ip=None)
+    result = build_trace_result("", "Linux", TraceConfig(target="1.1.1.1", resolved_ip=None))
     assert result.hops == []
     assert result.completed is False
     assert result.max_hops_reached is False