diff --git a/modules/common/development/nix.nix b/modules/common/development/nix.nix
index 7b7f45ffe..70978d0c2 100644
--- a/modules/common/development/nix.nix
+++ b/modules/common/development/nix.nix
@@ -18,36 +18,38 @@ in
       default = null;
       description = "Path to the nixpkgs repository";
     };
+    automatic-gc = {
+      enable = mkEnableOption "Enable automatic garbage collection";
+    };
   };
 
-  config = mkIf cfg.enable {
-    nix = {
-      settings = {
-        experimental-features = [
-          "nix-command"
-          "flakes"
-        ];
-        keep-outputs = true;
-        keep-derivations = true;
-      };
+  config.nix = {
+    inherit (cfg) enable;
+    settings = mkIf cfg.enable {
+      experimental-features = [
+        "nix-command"
+        "flakes"
+      ];
+      keep-outputs = true;
+      keep-derivations = true;
+    };
 
-      # avoid scenario where the host rootfs gets filled
-      # with nixos-rebuild ... switch generated excess
-      # generations and becomes unbootable
-      gc = {
-        automatic = true;
-        dates = "daily";
-        options = "--delete-older-than 3d";
-      };
+    # avoid scenario where the host rootfs gets filled
+    # with nixos-rebuild ... switch generated excess
+    # generations and becomes unbootable
+    gc = {
+      automatic = cfg.enable;
+      dates = "daily";
+      options = "--delete-older-than 3d";
+    };
 
-      # Set the path and registry so that e.g. nix-shell and repl work
-      nixPath = lib.mkIf (cfg.nixpkgs != null) [ "nixpkgs=${cfg.nixpkgs}" ];
+    # Set the path and registry so that e.g. nix-shell and repl work
+    nixPath = lib.mkIf (cfg.enable && cfg.nixpkgs != null) [ "nixpkgs=${cfg.nixpkgs}" ];
 
-      registry = lib.mkIf (cfg.nixpkgs != null) {
-        nixpkgs.to = {
-          type = "path";
-          path = cfg.nixpkgs;
-        };
+    registry = lib.mkIf (cfg.enable && cfg.nixpkgs != null) {
+      nixpkgs.to = {
+        type = "path";
+        path = cfg.nixpkgs;
       };
     };
   };
diff --git a/modules/microvm/virtualization/microvm/microvm-host.nix b/modules/microvm/virtualization/microvm/microvm-host.nix
index c5944c0b0..e8bff4739 100644
--- a/modules/microvm/virtualization/microvm/microvm-host.nix
+++ b/modules/microvm/virtualization/microvm/microvm-host.nix
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ in
         withHardenedConfigs = true;
       };
       ghaf.givc.host.enable = true;
+      ghaf.development.nix-setup.automatic-gc.enable = config.ghaf.development.nix-setup.enable;
       services.logind.lidSwitch = "ignore";
 
       # TODO: remove hardcoded paths