diff --git a/base/gui-programs.nix b/base/gui-programs.nix
index 8d73749..f98fedf 100644
--- a/base/gui-programs.nix
+++ b/base/gui-programs.nix
@@ -3,22 +3,17 @@
   environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
     alacritty
     discord
-    emacsPgtkGcc
     feh
     firefox
     pavucontrol
     slack
     spotify
-    sqlite # needed for org-roam
     zathura
   ];
 
-  fonts.fonts = with pkgs; [
-    input-fonts
-    emacs-all-the-icons-fonts
-  ];
-
   networking.networkmanager.enable = true;
   programs.nm-applet.enable = true;
+
+  # NOTE: needed for home emacs configuration
   nixpkgs.config.input-fonts.acceptLicense = true;
 }
diff --git a/home/emacs.nix b/home/emacs.nix
index 7229282..5b1808e 100644
--- a/home/emacs.nix
+++ b/home/emacs.nix
@@ -5,6 +5,16 @@
   };
 
   config = lib.mkIf config.my.home.emacs.enable {
+    home.packages = with pkgs; [
+      sqlite # needed by org-roam
+
+      # fonts used by my config
+      input-fonts
+      emacs-all-the-icons-fonts
+    ];
+    # make sure above fonts are discoverable
+    fonts.fontconfig.enable = true;
+
     services.emacs = {
       enable = true;
       # generate emacsclient desktop file