diff --git a/modules/nixos/system/size.nix b/modules/nixos/system/size.nix
index eeb3168..9123512 100644
--- a/modules/nixos/system/size.nix
+++ b/modules/nixos/system/size.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 { config, lib, ... }: let
+  inherit (lib) mkIf mkMerge mkDefault;
   cfg = config.cyclamen.system.minimal-size;
 in {
   options.cyclamen.system.minimal-size = {
@@ -8,37 +9,48 @@ in {
     '' // { default = true; };
   };
 
-  config = lib.mkIf cfg.enable {
-    # the default package set is frankly useless. it includes only perl, rsync and strace.
-    # id rather declare these manually if i want them
-    environment.defaultPackages = lib.mkForce [ ];
+  config = mkIf cfg.enable (mkMerge [
+    # cyclamen stuff
+    {
+      # the default package set is frankly useless. it includes only perl, rsync and strace.
+      # id rather declare these manually if i want them
+      environment.defaultPackages = lib.mkForce [ ];
 
-    # services/misc/graphical-desktop.nix sets this to true when graphical desktops are enabled.
-    # i dont want speech synthesis by default so no thank you
-    services.speechd.enable = false;
-    # similarly services/desktop-managers/plasma6.nix enables orca when plasma is enabled.
-    # that depends on speechd and so it sets it to true. i also dont want orca by default
-    services.orca.enable = false;
+      # services/misc/graphical-desktop.nix sets this to true when graphical desktops are enabled.
+      # i dont want speech synthesis by default so no thank you
+      services.speechd.enable = false;
+      # similarly services/desktop-managers/plasma6.nix enables orca when plasma is enabled.
+      # that depends on speechd and so it sets it to true. i also dont want orca by default
+      services.orca.enable = false;
+
+      # mandoc is both smaller than man-db and generally faster
+      documentation.man = {
+        man-db.enable = mkDefault false;
+        mandoc.enable = mkDefault true;
+      };
+    }
 
     # from the official perlless profile
-    # Remove perl from activation
-    boot.initrd.systemd.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
-    system.etc.overlay.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
-    services.userborn.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
+    {
+      # Remove perl from activation
+      boot.initrd.systemd.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
+      system.etc.overlay.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
+      services.userborn.enable = lib.mkDefault true;
 
-    # Random perl remnants
-    system.tools.nixos-generate-config.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
-    boot.loader.grub.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
-    # environment.defaultPackages = lib.mkDefault [ ];
-    documentation.info.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
-    documentation.nixos.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
+      # Random perl remnants
+      system.tools.nixos-generate-config.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
+      boot.loader.grub.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
+      environment.defaultPackages = lib.mkDefault [ ];
+      documentation.info.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
+      documentation.nixos.enable = lib.mkDefault false;
 
-    # many packages bring in perl for various reasons. the goal isnt to be completely
-    # rid of perl at all costs but to make sure perl doesnt get included purely for nixos itself.
-    # hence we disable this check
-    #
-    # Check that the system does not contain a Nix store path that contains the
-    # string "perl".
-    # system.forbiddenDependenciesRegexes = [ "perl" ];
-  };
+      # many packages bring in perl for various reasons. the goal isnt to be completely
+      # rid of perl at all costs but to make sure perl doesnt get included purely for nixos itself.
+      # hence we disable this check
+      #
+      # Check that the system does not contain a Nix store path that contains the
+      # string "perl".
+      # system.forbiddenDependenciesRegexes = [ "perl" ];
+    }
+  ]);
 }