diff --git a/modules/graphical/default.nix b/modules/graphical/default.nix
index 15042a22..5da7f4f6 100644
--- a/modules/graphical/default.nix
+++ b/modules/graphical/default.nix
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ in
         default = { };
       };
     };
+    wayland.software-renderer.enable = mkOption {
+      type = types.bool;
+      default = false;
+      description = "Feature flag enabling wlroots software renderer, useful in VMs";
+    };
   };
 
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
diff --git a/profiles/base-user/session-variables.nix b/profiles/base-user/session-variables.nix
index cc3aa69f..5bbfa8ee 100644
--- a/profiles/base-user/session-variables.nix
+++ b/profiles/base-user/session-variables.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 { config, pkgs, ... }:
 let
   psCfg = config.pub-solar;
+  wlroots = psCfg.graphical.wayland;
   xdg = config.home-manager.users."${psCfg.user.name}".xdg;
   variables = {
     XDG_CONFIG_HOME = xdg.configHome;
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ let
     ECORE_EVAS_ENGINE = "wayland_egl";
     ELM_ENGINE = "wayland_egl";
     SDL_VIDEODRIVER = "wayland";
+    WLR_RENDERER = if wlroots.software-renderer.enable then "pixman" else "gles2";
 
     EDITOR = "/etc/profiles/per-user/${psCfg.user.name}/bin/nvim";
     VISUAL = "/etc/profiles/per-user/${psCfg.user.name}/bin/nvim";