diff --git a/nixos/configuration.nix b/nixos/configuration.nix
index c61ddab..502d615 100755
--- a/nixos/configuration.nix
+++ b/nixos/configuration.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Edit this configuration file to define what should be installed on
 # your system.  Help is available in the configuration.nix(5) man page
 # and in the NixOS manual (accessible by running ‘nixos-help’).
+{ pkgs, ... }:
 {
   nix = {
     settings = {
@@ -9,6 +10,9 @@
     };
   };
 
+  # install the most recent stable linux kernel
+  boot.kernelPackages = pkgs.linuxPackages_latest;
+
   # Bootloader.
   boot.loader.systemd-boot.enable = true;
   boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;