diff --git a/nix/installer.nix b/nix/installer.nix
index 56a2ab1..36f490f 100644
--- a/nix/installer.nix
+++ b/nix/installer.nix
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   config,
   lib,
   pkgs,
-  modulesPath,
   ...
 }:
 {
@@ -21,6 +20,9 @@
   documentation.enable = false;
   documentation.man.man-db.enable = false;
 
+  # make it easier to debug boot failures
+  boot.initrd.systemd.emergencyAccess = true;
+
   environment.systemPackages = [
     pkgs.nixos-install-tools
     # for zapping of disko
@@ -31,10 +33,6 @@
 
   imports = [
     ./nix-settings.nix
-    # reduce closure size by removing perl
-    "${modulesPath}/profiles/perlless.nix"
-    # FIXME: we still are left with nixos-generate-config due to nixos-install-tools
-    { system.forbiddenDependenciesRegexes = lib.mkForce []; }
   ];
 
   # Don't add nixpkgs to the image to save space, for our intended use case we don't need it
diff --git a/nix/noninteractive.nix b/nix/noninteractive.nix
index 0f6e954..a685e89 100644
--- a/nix/noninteractive.nix
+++ b/nix/noninteractive.nix
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # This module optimizes for non-interactive deployments by remove some store paths
 # which are primarily useful for interactive installations.
 
-{ lib, pkgs, ... }:
+{ lib, pkgs, modulesPath, ... }:
 {
   disabledModules = [
     # This module adds values to multiple lists (systemPackages, supportedFilesystems)
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
   imports = [
     ./zfs-minimal.nix
     ./no-bootloaders.nix
+    # reduce closure size by removing perl
+    "${modulesPath}/profiles/perlless.nix"
+    # FIXME: we still are left with nixos-generate-config due to nixos-install-tools
+    { system.forbiddenDependenciesRegexes = lib.mkForce []; }
   ];
 
   # among others, this prevents carrying a stdenv with gcc in the image