seem to work

krops.nix

@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 { writeCommand, lib, ... }:
 let
 
+  # command that ensures we use flake.nix during switch
+  command = targetPath: ''
+    nix-shell \
+     -E "with import <nixpkgs> {}; mkShell { buildInputs = [ git (nixos { nix.package = nixFlakes; }).nixos-rebuild ]; }" \
+     --run 'nixos-rebuild build --flake ${targetPath} -L --keep-going'
+    '';
+
   secrets = name: {
     secrets.pass = {
       dir = toString ~/.password-store;
@@ -31,6 +38,7 @@ let
     #mqtt.file = toString ./mqtt;
     pkgs.file = toString ./pkgs;
     system.file = toString ./system;
+    "flake.nix".file = toString ./flake.nix;
 
     #backup-module.file = toString ~/dev/backup;
     backup-module.git = {
@@ -57,5 +65,6 @@ in {
     #source = lib.evalSource [ source (secrets "sterni") desktopSecrets ];
     source = lib.evalSource [ source ];
     target = lib.mkTarget "root@sterni.private";
+    inherit command;
   };
 }

system/all/default.nix

@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 { lib, config, pkgs, ... }: {
   imports = [
 
-    <backup-module>
-    <krops-lib>
-    <cluster-module>
-    <modules>
+    #<backup-module>
+    #<krops-lib>
+    #<cluster-module>
+    #<modules>
 
     # needed
-    <home-manager/nixos>
+    #<home-manager/nixos>
 
     # cross-compiling
     #<cleverca22/qemu.nix>