diff --git a/machines/common/all/default.nix b/machines/common/all/default.nix
index 428948ab0..b3ecc426a 100644
--- a/machines/common/all/default.nix
+++ b/machines/common/all/default.nix
@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@
     ./home-manager.nix
     ./users.nix
   ];
+
+  time.timeZone = "America/Los_Angeles";
 }
 
diff --git a/machines/common/hardware.nix b/machines/common/hardware.nix
index 18eb2d12a..32a222540 100644
--- a/machines/common/hardware.nix
+++ b/machines/common/hardware.nix
@@ -44,10 +44,9 @@
   # For 32 bit applications
   hardware.opengl.driSupport32Bit = true;
 
+  # TODO colin: does this *do* anything?
   swapDevices = [ ];
 
-  time.timeZone = "America/Los_Angeles";
-
   # services.snapper.configs = {
   #   root = {
   #     subvolume = "/";