diff --git a/infra/machines/fedi201/fedipanel.nix b/infra/machines/fedi201/fedipanel.nix
index 85696b9d..99e02a0e 100644
--- a/infra/machines/fedi201/fedipanel.nix
+++ b/infra/machines/fedi201/fedipanel.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 {
   self,
   config,
+  pkgs,
   ...
 }:
 let
@@ -44,5 +45,6 @@ in
   };
   systemd.services.${name}.env = {
     REPO_DIR = builtins.trace self self;
+    NIX_DIR = pkgs.nix;
   };
 }
diff --git a/panel/default.nix b/panel/default.nix
index 0246337f..b47473bb 100644
--- a/panel/default.nix
+++ b/panel/default.nix
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ in
     '';
     # FIXME: ending a path in a non-name produces a double hash :(
     REPO_DIR = ./..;
+    NIX_DIR = pkgs.nix;
   };
 
   tests = pkgs'.callPackage ./nix/tests.nix { };
diff --git a/panel/src/panel/views.py b/panel/src/panel/views.py
index 6629ade2..82c0f380 100644
--- a/panel/src/panel/views.py
+++ b/panel/src/panel/views.py
@@ -12,23 +12,18 @@ from panel import models
 from panel.configuration import forms
 
 
-
 class Index(TemplateView):
     template_name = 'index.html'
 
-
 class AccountDetail(LoginRequiredMixin, DetailView):
     model = User
     template_name = 'account_detail.html'
-
     def get_object(self):
         return self.request.user
 
-
 class ServiceList(TemplateView):
     template_name = 'service_list.html'
 
-
 class ConfigurationForm(LoginRequiredMixin, FormView):
     template_name = 'configuration_form.html'
     success_url = reverse_lazy('configuration_form')
@@ -48,10 +43,13 @@ class ConfigurationForm(LoginRequiredMixin, FormView):
         if "deploy" in self.request.POST.keys():
             print("DEPLOYING:")
             print(os.getenv("REPO_DIR"))
-            config_dict = obj.parsed_value.model_dump_json()
-            print(f"config_dict: {config_dict}")
-            subprocess.run(["nix", "develop", "--command", "nixops4", "apply",
-                           "test"], cwd=os.getenv("REPO_DIR"), env={"DEPLOYMENT": config_dict})
+            print(os.getenv("NIX_DIR"))
+            env={
+                "DEPLOYMENT": obj.parsed_value.model_dump_json(),
+                "PATH": f"{os.getenv("NIX_DIR")}/bin/",
+            }
+            print(f"env: {env}")
+            subprocess.run(["nix", "develop", "--command", "nixops4", "--show-trace", "--verbose", "apply", "test"], cwd=os.getenv("REPO_DIR"), env=env)
         return obj
 
     # TODO(@fricklerhandwerk):