diff --git a/core/system/vm-guest.nix b/core/system/vm-guest.nix
index ac73040..e20aadf 100644
--- a/core/system/vm-guest.nix
+++ b/core/system/vm-guest.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
-{ inputs, lib, ... }:
+{ inputs, lib, pkgs, homeActivationPackage ? null, ... }:
 
 {
+  # Pre-activate standalone home-manager if provided
+  system.activationScripts.home-manager-activate = lib.mkIf (homeActivationPackage != null) {
+    text = ''
+      USER_HOME="/home/nomarchy"
+      if [ ! -d "$USER_HOME" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "$USER_HOME"
+        chown nomarchy:users "$USER_HOME"
+      fi
+      # Run activation as the nomarchy user
+      ${pkgs.sudo}/bin/sudo -u nomarchy ${homeActivationPackage}/activate
+    '';
+    deps = [ "users" ];
+  };
+
   # Shared VM configuration
   virtualisation.vmVariant = {
     virtualisation.graphics = true;
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index afc5a23..c830e47 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -22,7 +22,26 @@
     walker.url = "github:abenz1267/walker";
   };
 
-  outputs = { self, nixpkgs, nixos-hardware, disko, impermanence, home-manager, nix-colors, stylix, walker, ... } @ inputs: {
+  outputs = { self, nixpkgs, nixos-hardware, disko, impermanence, home-manager, nix-colors, stylix, walker, ... } @ inputs: let
+    # Helper to create standalone home configurations
+    mkHome = { username, modules ? [] }: home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
+      pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;
+      extraSpecialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
+      modules = [
+        ./features
+        {
+          home.username = username;
+          home.homeDirectory = "/home/${username}";
+          home.stateVersion = "25.11";
+        }
+      ] ++ modules;
+    };
+
+    homeConfigs = {
+      "nixos" = mkHome { username = "nixos"; };
+      "nomarchy" = mkHome { username = "nomarchy"; };
+    };
+  in {
     # Expose inputs for downstream use
     inherit inputs;
 
@@ -48,7 +67,10 @@
 
       # Graphical installer ISO (legacy, for users who prefer GUI)
       installerIsoGraphical = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
-        specialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
+        specialArgs = { 
+          inherit inputs; 
+          homeActivationPackage = homeConfigs."nixos".activationPackage;
+        };
         modules = [
           { nixpkgs.hostPlatform = "x86_64-linux"; }
           "${nixpkgs}/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-graphical-base.nix"
@@ -64,7 +86,10 @@
 
       # Default configuration (VM and testing)
       default = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
-        specialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
+        specialArgs = { 
+          inherit inputs; 
+          homeActivationPackage = homeConfigs."nomarchy".activationPackage;
+        };
         modules = [
           { nixpkgs.hostPlatform = "x86_64-linux"; }
           ./core/default.nix
@@ -90,34 +115,6 @@
       };
     };
 
-    homeConfigurations = {
-      # Standalone Home Manager configuration for Live ISO
-      "nixos" = home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
-        pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;
-        extraSpecialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
-        modules = [
-          ./features
-          {
-            home.username = "nixos";
-            home.homeDirectory = "/home/nixos";
-            home.stateVersion = "25.11";
-          }
-        ];
-      };
-
-      # Standalone Home Manager configuration for VM testing
-      "nomarchy" = home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
-        pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.x86_64-linux;
-        extraSpecialArgs = { inherit inputs; };
-        modules = [
-          ./features
-          {
-            home.username = "nomarchy";
-            home.homeDirectory = "/home/nomarchy";
-            home.stateVersion = "25.11";
-          }
-        ];
-      };
-    };
+    homeConfigurations = homeConfigs;
   };
 }
diff --git a/hosts/live-iso.nix b/hosts/live-iso.nix
index bbb2593..fa2b482 100644
--- a/hosts/live-iso.nix
+++ b/hosts/live-iso.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
-{ config, pkgs, inputs, lib, ... }:
+{ config, pkgs, inputs, lib, homeActivationPackage, ... }:
 
 {
+  # Pre-activate standalone home-manager for the live environment
+  system.activationScripts.home-manager-activate = {
+    text = ''
+      USER_HOME="/home/nixos"
+      if [ ! -d "$USER_HOME" ]; then
+        mkdir -p "$USER_HOME"
+        chown nixos:users "$USER_HOME"
+      fi
+      # Run activation as the nixos user
+      ${pkgs.sudo}/bin/sudo -u nixos ${homeActivationPackage}/activate
+    '';
+    deps = [ "users" ];
+  };
+
   environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
     git
     gum