diff --git a/modules/terminal-life/nvim/lsp.vim b/modules/terminal-life/nvim/lsp.vim
index d34929f8..e9d98812 100644
--- a/modules/terminal-life/nvim/lsp.vim
+++ b/modules/terminal-life/nvim/lsp.vim
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ set completeopt=menuone,noinsert,noselect
 " Avoid showing extra messages when using completion
 set shortmess+=c
 
+function AddTemplate(tmpl_file)
+    exe "0read " . a:tmpl_file
+    set nomodified
+    6
+endfunction
+
+autocmd BufNewFile shell.nix call AddTemplate("$XDG_DATA_HOME/nvim/templates/shell.nix.tmpl")
+
 " Configure neovim 0.6+ experimental LSPs
 " https://github.com/neovim/nvim-lspconfig
 " https://github.com/neovim/nvim-lspconfig/blob/master/doc/server_configurations.md
diff --git a/profiles/base-user/home.nix b/profiles/base-user/home.nix
index 19d2aaed..87db37dd 100644
--- a/profiles/base-user/home.nix
+++ b/profiles/base-user/home.nix
@@ -64,6 +64,20 @@ in
     # Ensure nvim backup directory gets created
     # Workaround for E510: Can't make backup file (add ! to override)
     xdg.dataFile."nvim/backup/.keep".text = "";
+    xdg.dataFile."nvim/templates/.keep".text = "";
+    xdg.dataFile."shell.nix.tmpl" = {
+      text = ''
+        let
+          unstable = import (fetchTarball https://github.com/nixos/nixpkgs/archive/nixos-unstable.tar.gz) { };
+        in
+        { nixpkgs ? import <nixpkgs> {} }:
+        with nixpkgs; mkShell {
+          buildInputs = [
+          ];
+        }
+      '';
+      target = "nvim/templates/shell.nix.tmpl";
+    };
 
     # Allow unfree packages only on a user basis, not on a system-wide basis
     xdg.configFile."nixpkgs/config.nix".text = " { allowUnfree = true; } ";