diff --git a/global/gui/default.nix b/global/gui/default.nix
index 45c5a073..8a7e88f4 100644
--- a/global/gui/default.nix
+++ b/global/gui/default.nix
@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ in {
         vaapiVdpau
         libvdpau-va-gl
         intel-compute-runtime
-      ] ++ optional nvidia nvidia-vaapi-driver;
+      ] ++
+      optional nvidia nvidia-vaapi-driver ++
+      optional (cfg.type == "nvidia") vulkan-validation-layers;
     };
 
     services.xserver.videoDrivers =
@@ -66,8 +68,12 @@ in {
       open = false;
     };
 
-    # work around broken nvidia hw cursor on wayland
-    environment.variables.WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS = mkIf (cfg.type == "nvidia") "1";
+    environment.variables = {
+      # work around broken nvidia hw cursor on wayland
+      WLR_NO_HARDWARE_CURSORS = mkIf (cfg.type == "nvidia") "1";
+      # work around wlroots flickering on pure nvidia
+      WLR_RENDERER = mkIf (cfg.type == "nvidia") "vulkan";
+    };
 
     specialisation.integratedGraphics = mkIf (cfg.type == "prime") {
       configuration = {