diff --git a/machines/howl/default.nix b/machines/howl/default.nix
index 18cb55f..eae09fa 100644
--- a/machines/howl/default.nix
+++ b/machines/howl/default.nix
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@
   # don't use remote builders
   nix.distributedBuilds = lib.mkForce false;
 
+  nix.gc.automatic = lib.mkForce false;
 }