diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
index a6d5743c..c878da9a 100644
--- a/.envrc
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -1,2 +1,10 @@
-watch_file shell/* flake.nix
-use flake || use nix
+# reload when these files change
+watch_file flake.nix
+watch_file shell.nix
+
+{
+  # shell gc root dir
+  mkdir -p "$(direnv_layout_dir)"
+
+  eval "$(nix print-dev-env --profile $(direnv_layout_dir)/flake-profile)"
+} || use nix