diff --git a/vms/nixden/configuration.nix b/vms/nixden/configuration.nix
index ac2b0dc..bf7cabd 100644
--- a/vms/nixden/configuration.nix
+++ b/vms/nixden/configuration.nix
@@ -65,10 +65,9 @@
     ];
   };
 
-  environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
-    devenv
-    fish
-  ];
+  # fish must be system-wide to serve as the account's login shell;
+  # everything else comes from the guest's home profile.
+  environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.fish ];
 
   environment.etc."gitconfig".text = ''
     [safe]