diff --git a/deployment/data-model-test.nix b/deployment/data-model-test.nix
index fa0a9ec1..76ca1968 100644
--- a/deployment/data-model-test.nix
+++ b/deployment/data-model-test.nix
@@ -125,7 +125,10 @@ in
                 };
               environments.single-nixos-vm = environment: {
                 _class = "fediversity-environment";
-                resources.shell.login-shell.username = "operator";
+                resources.shell.login-shell = {
+                  username = "operator";
+                  wheel = false; # FIXME: why do i need to make this explicit, if a default was supposed to be set?
+                };
                 implementation = requests: {
                   _class = "nixos";
                   users.users = (