diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mako.nix b/hosts/common/programs/mako.nix
index 497dda57..1914d227 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/mako.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mako.nix
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
     # i'm using means that target's never reached...
     # TODO: might want `ConditionUser=!@system`
 
-    serviceConfig.ExecStart = "${pkgs.mako}/bin/mako";
+    serviceConfig.ExecStart = "${config.sane.programs.mako.package}/bin/mako";
     serviceConfig.Type = "simple";
     # mako will predictably fail if launched before the wayland server is fully initialized
     serviceConfig.Restart = "on-failure";
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix b/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix
index 19a2da70..ef939ba6 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # - examples:
 #   - thread: <https://github.com/ErikReider/SwayNotificationCenter/discussions/183>
 #   - buttons-grid and menubar: <https://gist.github.com/JannisPetschenka/fb00eec3efea9c7fff8c38a01ce5d507>
-{ ... }:
+{ config, lib, ... }:
 {
   sane.programs.swaynotificationcenter = {
     fs.".config/swaync/style.css".symlink.text = ''
@@ -129,4 +129,18 @@
       };
     };
   };
+
+  # TODO: give `sane.programs` native support for defining services
+  systemd.user.services.swaync = lib.mkIf config.sane.programs.swaynotificationcenter.enabled {
+    # swaync ships its own service, but i want to add `environment` variables and flags for easier debugging.
+    # seems that's not possible without defining an entire nix-native service (i.e. this).
+    description = "Swaync desktop notification daemon";
+    wantedBy = [ "default.target" ];
+    serviceConfig.ExecStart = "${config.sane.programs.swaynotificationcenter.package}/bin/swaync";
+    serviceConfig.Type = "dbus";
+    serviceConfig.BusName = "org.freedesktop.Notifications";
+    serviceConfig.Restart = "on-failure";
+    serviceConfig.RestartSec = "10s";
+    environment.G_MESSAGES_DEBUG = "all";
+  };
 }