diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py
index eac2d6655..1532a8618 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pytest_plugins = [
     "host_group",
     "fixtures_flakes",
     "stdout",
+    "nix_config",
 ]
 
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/nix_config.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/nix_config.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2f0d753ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/nix_config.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import json
+import subprocess
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+import pytest
+
+
+@dataclass
+class ConfigItem:
+    aliases: list[str]
+    defaultValue: bool  # noqa: N815
+    description: str
+    documentDefault: bool  # noqa: N815
+    experimentalFeature: str  # noqa: N815
+    value: str | bool | list[str] | dict[str, str]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="session")
+def nix_config() -> dict[str, ConfigItem]:
+    proc = subprocess.run(
+        ["nix", "show-config", "--json"], check=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE
+    )
+    data = json.loads(proc.stdout)
+    return {name: ConfigItem(**c) for name, c in data.items()}
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars_deployment.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars_deployment.py
index 2a9bcc945..4a7bc46d7 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars_deployment.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_vars_deployment.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from clan_cli.vms.run import inspect_vm, spawn_vm
 from fixtures_flakes import generate_flake
 from helpers import cli
 from helpers.nixos_config import nested_dict
+from nix_config import ConfigItem
 from root import CLAN_CORE
 
 
@@ -19,11 +20,12 @@ from root import CLAN_CORE
 def test_vm_deployment(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
     temporary_home: Path,
+    nix_config: dict[str, ConfigItem],
     sops_setup: SopsSetup,
 ) -> None:
     # machine 1
     machine1_config = nested_dict()
-    machine1_config["nixpkgs"]["hostPlatform"] = "x86_64-linux"
+    machine1_config["nixpkgs"]["hostPlatform"] = nix_config["system"].value
     machine1_config["clan"]["virtualisation"]["graphics"] = False
     machine1_config["services"]["getty"]["autologinUser"] = "root"
     machine1_config["services"]["openssh"]["enable"] = True
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ def test_vm_deployment(
     """
     # machine 2
     machine2_config = nested_dict()
+    machine2_config["nixpkgs"]["hostPlatform"] = nix_config["system"].value
     machine2_config["clan"]["virtualisation"]["graphics"] = False
     machine2_config["services"]["getty"]["autologinUser"] = "root"
     machine2_config["services"]["openssh"]["enable"] = True