diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/nix.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/nix.py
index f8d3c89a4..ab585abb3 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/nix.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/nix.py
@@ -6,4 +6,5 @@ def nix_shell(packages: list[str], cmd: list[str]) -> list[str]:
     # in unittest we will have all binaries provided
     if nixpkgs is None:
         return cmd
-    return ["nix", "shell", "-f", nixpkgs] + packages + ["-c"] + cmd
+    wrapped_packages = [f"path:{nixpkgs}#{p}" for p in packages]
+    return ["nix", "shell"] + wrapped_packages + ["-c"] + cmd
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_clan_ssh.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_clan_ssh.py
index de42ca119..897d53057 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_clan_ssh.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/test_clan_ssh.py
@@ -39,10 +39,8 @@ def test_ssh_no_pass(fp: pytest_subprocess.fake_process.FakeProcess) -> None:
         cmd: list[Union[str, utils.Any]] = [
             "nix",
             "shell",
-            "-f",
-            "/mocked-nixpkgs",
-            "tor",
-            "openssh",
+            "path:/mocked-nixpkgs#tor",
+            "path:/mocked-nixpkgs#openssh",
             "-c",
             "torify",
             "ssh",
@@ -68,11 +66,9 @@ def test_ssh_with_pass(fp: pytest_subprocess.fake_process.FakeProcess) -> None:
         cmd: list[Union[str, utils.Any]] = [
             "nix",
             "shell",
-            "-f",
-            "/mocked-nixpkgs",
-            "tor",
-            "openssh",
-            "sshpass",
+            "path:/mocked-nixpkgs#tor",
+            "path:/mocked-nixpkgs#openssh",
+            "path:/mocked-nixpkgs#sshpass",
             "-c",
             "torify",
             "sshpass",