diff --git a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
index c0119b40..5adf840d 100644
--- a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
+++ b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
@@ -1104,13 +1104,16 @@ in
         NoNewPrivileges = true; # already runs as unprivileged user
         PrivateTmp = true; # uses StateDirectory for tmpfiles, not /tmp
         ProtectHome = true; # HOME = /var/lib/hyperhive; no /home/* access needed
-        # "full" makes /usr, /etc, /boot read-only. Safe: c0re never
-        # writes to any of those paths directly — all /etc writes (e.g.
-        # /etc/nixos-containers) go through hive-priv, and reads from
-        # /etc/hyperhive/serve.json are read-only. "strict" (everything
-        # read-only) requires carefully auditing ReadWritePaths for every
-        # nix store path c0re touches and is deferred to a follow-up.
-        ProtectSystem = "full";
+        # "strict" makes the entire filesystem read-only except for
+        # StateDirectory (/var/lib/hyperhive) and RuntimeDirectory
+        # (/run/hyperhive), which systemd keeps writable. hive-c0re
+        # never writes to /usr, /etc, /boot, /run (other than its own
+        # RuntimeDirectory), or /nix — all /etc writes go through
+        # hive-priv, /etc/hyperhive/serve.json is read-only at startup,
+        # and the service never calls nix directly (builds delegate to
+        # hive-priv via the privileged socket). No ReadWritePaths needed
+        # beyond the managed directories.
+        ProtectSystem = "strict";
         ProtectKernelTunables = true; # no sysctl writes
         ProtectKernelLogs = true; # reads logs via systemd-journal group, not /dev/kmsg
         ProtectControlGroups = true; # cgroup writes go through hive-priv, not c0re directly