diff --git a/docs/gotchas.md b/docs/gotchas.md
index b5fdb56d..71ed4694 100644
--- a/docs/gotchas.md
+++ b/docs/gotchas.md
@@ -76,14 +76,13 @@ socket without needing a clean reinstall.
 
 ## `claude-code` is unfree
 
-The flake pins it to **nixpkgs-unstable** via
-`overlays.claude-unstable` (stable lags too far). The overlay sets
-`config.allowUnfreePredicate` on its unstable import to whitelist
-`claude-code` specifically — scoped, only this one package.
-`harness-base.nix` does the same at the container level because
-each per-agent `nixosConfiguration` evaluates its own nixpkgs
-instance and the operator's host-level `allowUnfree` does **not**
-propagate in. Operators don't need to set anything on their side.
+`claude-code` comes from the flake's main `nixpkgs` (nixos-26.05).
+It's unfree, so `harness-base.nix` sets `config.allowUnfreePredicate`
+at the container level to whitelist `claude-code` specifically —
+scoped, only this one package. This is needed because each per-agent
+`nixosConfiguration` evaluates its own nixpkgs instance and the
+operator's host-level `allowUnfree` does **not** propagate in.
+Operators don't need to set anything on their side.
 
 ## Claude credentials are per-agent
 
diff --git a/flake.lock b/flake.lock
index 1ce362be..eed4737a 100644
--- a/flake.lock
+++ b/flake.lock
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@
     },
     "nixpkgs": {
       "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1779971959,
-        "narHash": "sha256-R5nauXyqyfRUFiZycFFZdkF7wl6eaUpPLst35+2nJQY=",
+        "lastModified": 1782847225,
+        "narHash": "sha256-JC9PjqKYG9ve5U8aDOLQipp3+KLANBHUvGdLZlxzdKI=",
         "owner": "NixOS",
         "repo": "nixpkgs",
-        "rev": "ec942ba042dad5ef097e2ef3a3effc034241f011",
+        "rev": "95ca1e203c0750115fd4a6f17d5a245dfe6b1edd",
         "type": "github"
       },
       "original": {
@@ -31,27 +31,10 @@
         "type": "github"
       }
     },
-    "nixpkgs-unstable": {
-      "locked": {
-        "lastModified": 1778869304,
-        "narHash": "sha256-30sZNZoA1cqF5JNO9fVX+wgiQYjB7HJqqJ4ztCDeBZE=",
-        "owner": "NixOS",
-        "repo": "nixpkgs",
-        "rev": "d233902339c02a9c334e7e593de68855ad26c4cb",
-        "type": "github"
-      },
-      "original": {
-        "owner": "NixOS",
-        "ref": "nixpkgs-unstable",
-        "repo": "nixpkgs",
-        "type": "github"
-      }
-    },
     "root": {
       "inputs": {
         "crane": "crane",
         "nixpkgs": "nixpkgs",
-        "nixpkgs-unstable": "nixpkgs-unstable",
         "treefmt-nix": "treefmt-nix"
       }
     },
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 85b4f623..4c4b3979 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
   inputs = {
     nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-26.05";
-    nixpkgs-unstable.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixpkgs-unstable";
     # Crane (replaces the former naersk-based build). Stateless — no nixpkgs input to
     # follow; `crane.mkLib pkgs` returns the lib at whatever pkgs we
     # pass it (we use the project's pinned nixpkgs).
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@
     inputs@{
       self,
       nixpkgs,
-      nixpkgs-unstable,
       crane,
       treefmt-nix,
     }:
@@ -267,24 +265,6 @@
           # in-container agent docs dir from it.
           hyperhive-docs = self.packages.${prev.stdenv.hostPlatform.system}.reference-docs;
         };
-        claude-unstable =
-          final: prev:
-          let
-            # The overlay imports its own nixpkgs-unstable instance to
-            # pin claude-code there. That instance has its own config
-            # (independent from the user's prev.config), so we have to
-            # set allowUnfreePredicate inline to whitelist claude-code
-            # specifically — otherwise the unstable import itself
-            # refuses to evaluate. This is scoped: only claude-code
-            # bypasses unfree, nothing else.
-            unstable = import nixpkgs-unstable {
-              inherit (prev.stdenv.hostPlatform) system;
-              config.allowUnfreePredicate = pkg: builtins.elem (prev.lib.getName pkg) [ "claude-code" ];
-            };
-          in
-          {
-            inherit (unstable) claude-code;
-          };
       };
 
       nixosModules = {
@@ -295,18 +275,11 @@
         # overlay (which would also pollute their host pkgs with our
         # build), we thread the package straight from this flake's
         # `packages.<system>.default` via a `hyperhivePackage` argument.
-        # The `claude-unstable` overlay only matters inside our container
-        # builds (already applied internally in `nixosConfigurations`).
         hive-c0re = import ./nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix {
           hyperhivePackage = system: self.packages.${system}.default;
           hyperhiveFrontend = system: self.packages.${system}.frontend;
           hyperhiveAssets = system: self.packages.${system}.assets;
           hyperhiveFlake = "${hyperhiveFlakeSource}";
-          # Store path of the nixpkgs-unstable input this flake was evaluated
-          # with — the channel that carries claude-code. Passed as the default
-          # for `services.hyperhive.c0re.nixpkgsUnstableFlake` so operators can
-          # override it without touching this file.
-          hyperhiveNixpkgsUnstable = "path:${nixpkgs-unstable}";
           # Per-container toplevels — wired into `system.extraDependencies`
           # when `services.hyperhive.c0re.preBuildAgentTemplates` is on so the
           # host system closure pre-fetches the heavy build inputs.
@@ -340,7 +313,6 @@
                 {
                   nixpkgs.overlays = [
                     self.overlays.default
-                    self.overlays.claude-unstable
                   ];
                 }
               ];
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs b/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
index 6fd96eec..93068813 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/coordinator.rs
@@ -67,11 +67,6 @@ pub struct Coordinator {
     /// "nixpkgs"` is set in the host flake). Empty string = legacy
     /// `follows = "hyperhive/nixpkgs"` behaviour.
     pub nixpkgs_flake: String,
-    /// Store-path URL for `nixpkgs-unstable` to wire as a top-level meta
-    /// flake input. Hyperhive's `inputs.nixpkgs-unstable` then follows it.
-    /// Set via `--nixpkgs-unstable-flake` from `hive-c0re.nix`. Empty string
-    /// falls back to the legacy `follows = "hyperhive/nixpkgs-unstable"`.
-    pub nixpkgs_unstable_flake: String,
     /// TCP port the host's hive-c0re dashboard listens on. Inlined into
     /// each per-agent flake so the agent's web UI can build the right
     /// rebuild-button URL pointing back at the dashboard.
@@ -203,7 +198,6 @@ pub struct Coordinator {
 pub struct HiveEnv {
     pub hyperhive_flake: String,
     pub nixpkgs_flake: String,
-    pub nixpkgs_unstable_flake: String,
     pub dashboard_port: u16,
     pub operator_pronouns: String,
     pub context_window_tokens: std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
@@ -218,7 +212,6 @@ impl Default for HiveEnv {
         Self {
             hyperhive_flake: "/etc/hyperhive".to_string(),
             nixpkgs_flake: String::new(),
-            nixpkgs_unstable_flake: String::new(),
             dashboard_port: 7000,
             operator_pronouns: "she/her".to_string(),
             context_window_tokens: std::collections::HashMap::from([
@@ -433,7 +426,6 @@ impl Coordinator {
         let HiveEnv {
             hyperhive_flake,
             nixpkgs_flake,
-            nixpkgs_unstable_flake,
             dashboard_port,
             operator_pronouns,
             context_window_tokens,
@@ -476,7 +468,6 @@ impl Coordinator {
             audit_log,
             hyperhive_flake,
             nixpkgs_flake,
-            nixpkgs_unstable_flake,
             dashboard_port,
             operator_pronouns,
             context_window_tokens,
@@ -506,7 +497,6 @@ impl Coordinator {
         HiveEnv {
             hyperhive_flake: self.hyperhive_flake.clone(),
             nixpkgs_flake: self.nixpkgs_flake.clone(),
-            nixpkgs_unstable_flake: self.nixpkgs_unstable_flake.clone(),
             dashboard_port: self.dashboard_port,
             operator_pronouns: self.operator_pronouns.clone(),
             context_window_tokens: self.context_window_tokens.clone(),
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/flake_check.rs b/hive-c0re/src/flake_check.rs
index 87a2db67..b8d16179 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/flake_check.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/flake_check.rs
@@ -309,10 +309,6 @@ mod tests {
                 "locked": {"rev": "aaa"},
                 "original": {"owner": "NixOS", "repo": "nixpkgs", "ref": "nixos-26.05", "type": "github"}
             },
-            "nixpkgs-unstable": {
-                "locked": {"rev": "bbb"},
-                "original": {"owner": "NixOS", "repo": "nixpkgs", "ref": "nixpkgs-unstable", "type": "github"}
-            },
             "root": {"inputs": {"nixpkgs": "nixpkgs"}}
         },
         "root": "root",
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/main.rs b/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
index 6cee9a28..5e5ac9e2 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/main.rs
@@ -54,11 +54,6 @@ enum Cmd {
         /// `follows = "hyperhive/nixpkgs"` fallback.
         #[arg(long)]
         nixpkgs_flake: Option<String>,
-        /// Override: store-path URL of the nixpkgs-unstable to wire into
-        /// the meta flake as `inputs.nixpkgs-unstable.url`. Empty = legacy
-        /// `follows = "hyperhive/nixpkgs-unstable"` fallback.
-        #[arg(long)]
-        nixpkgs_unstable_flake: Option<String>,
         /// Override: dashboard HTTP port.
         #[arg(long)]
         dashboard_port: Option<u16>,
@@ -155,7 +150,6 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             db,
             hyperhive_flake,
             nixpkgs_flake,
-            nixpkgs_unstable_flake,
             dashboard_port,
             operator_pronouns,
             context_window_tokens,
@@ -181,9 +175,6 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
             if let Some(v) = nixpkgs_flake {
                 sc.env.nixpkgs_flake = v;
             }
-            if let Some(v) = nixpkgs_unstable_flake {
-                sc.env.nixpkgs_unstable_flake = v;
-            }
             if let Some(v) = dashboard_port {
                 sc.env.dashboard_port = v;
             }
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
index 22753764..8f6b055d 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ pub async fn sync_agents(hive: &HiveEnv, agents: &[AgentSpec]) -> Result<()> {
     let new_flake = render_flake(
         &hive.hyperhive_flake,
         &hive.nixpkgs_flake,
-        &hive.nixpkgs_unstable_flake,
         hive.dashboard_port,
         &hive.operator_pronouns,
         &hive.context_window_tokens,
@@ -563,7 +562,6 @@ pub async fn bulk_commit_topology(
 fn render_flake(
     hyperhive_flake: &str,
     nixpkgs_flake: &str,
-    nixpkgs_unstable_flake: &str,
     dashboard_port: u16,
     operator_pronouns: &str,
     context_window_tokens: &std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
@@ -572,7 +570,6 @@ fn render_flake(
     render_flake_with_lookup(
         hyperhive_flake,
         nixpkgs_flake,
-        nixpkgs_unstable_flake,
         dashboard_port,
         operator_pronouns,
         context_window_tokens,
@@ -586,7 +583,7 @@ fn render_flake(
 /// `follows = "<name>"` line emitted in meta — collapsing the
 /// otherwise-separate-but-identical `nixpkgs_N` nodes into a single
 /// meta-level reference.
-const CANONICAL_INPUTS: &[&str] = &["nixpkgs", "nixpkgs-unstable"];
+const CANONICAL_INPUTS: &[&str] = &["nixpkgs"];
 
 /// Env vars hive-c0re forwards from its own systemd unit env into every
 /// sub-agent's harness service env. Each entry is `(env_var_name,
@@ -841,7 +838,6 @@ fn agent_canonical_inputs(name: &str) -> Vec<&'static str> {
 fn render_flake_with_lookup<F>(
     hyperhive_flake: &str,
     nixpkgs_flake: &str,
-    nixpkgs_unstable_flake: &str,
     dashboard_port: u16,
     operator_pronouns: &str,
     context_window_tokens: &std::collections::HashMap<String, u64>,
@@ -854,37 +850,30 @@ where
     use std::fmt::Write as _;
     let mut out = String::new();
     out.push_str("{\n  description = \"hyperhive deployed agents\";\n  inputs = {\n");
-    // `nixpkgs` + `nixpkgs-unstable` are top-level meta inputs with explicit
-    // store-path URLs. `hyperhive` then follows them via
-    // `hyperhive.inputs.*.follows`. This cascades through to every agent
-    // because `agent-<n>.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs"` resolves to
-    // the same top-level node.
+    // `nixpkgs` is a top-level meta input with an explicit store-path URL.
+    // `hyperhive` then follows it via `hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs.follows`.
+    // This cascades through to every agent because
+    // `agent-<n>.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = "nixpkgs"` resolves to the same
+    // top-level node.
     //
-    // Why explicit `path:` URLs instead of
+    // Why an explicit `path:` URL instead of
     // `nixpkgs.follows = "hyperhive/nixpkgs"`:
     // meta points to hyperhive's *store path* as its flake input, so nix
     // reads hyperhive's own pinned lock when evaluating that input — the
     // host-level `follows` the operator set never propagates. Injecting the
-    // evaluated `pkgs.path` / nixpkgs-unstable path directly at nix-module
-    // evaluation time is the only reliable way to honour the host's channel
-    // choice.
+    // evaluated `pkgs.path` directly at nix-module evaluation time is the
+    // only reliable way to honour the host's channel choice.
     //
-    // Fallback (both flake args empty): legacy `follows` wiring — used when
+    // Fallback (flake arg empty): legacy `follows` wiring — used when
     // hive-c0re is not built with this option wired up.
     if nixpkgs_flake.is_empty() {
         // Legacy path: meta defers to hyperhive's own lock.
         let _ = writeln!(out, "    hyperhive.url = \"{hyperhive_flake}\";");
         out.push_str("    nixpkgs.follows = \"hyperhive/nixpkgs\";\n");
-        out.push_str("    nixpkgs-unstable.follows = \"hyperhive/nixpkgs-unstable\";\n");
     } else {
         let _ = writeln!(out, "    nixpkgs.url = \"{nixpkgs_flake}\";");
-        let _ = writeln!(
-            out,
-            "    nixpkgs-unstable.url = \"{nixpkgs_unstable_flake}\";"
-        );
         let _ = writeln!(out, "    hyperhive.url = \"{hyperhive_flake}\";");
         out.push_str("    hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = \"nixpkgs\";\n");
-        out.push_str("    hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs-unstable.follows = \"nixpkgs-unstable\";\n");
     }
     for spec in agents {
         let _ = writeln!(
@@ -1276,30 +1265,21 @@ mod tests {
         let out = render_flake(
             "github:example/hyperhive",
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
-            "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
             8000,
             "she/her",
             &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
         );
-        // Both nixpkgs + nixpkgs-unstable are top-level inputs with
-        // explicit URLs; hyperhive follows them.
+        // nixpkgs is a top-level input with an explicit URL; hyperhive
+        // follows it.
         assert!(
             out.contains("nixpkgs.url = \"path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source\""),
             "expected explicit nixpkgs.url:\n{out}"
         );
-        assert!(
-            out.contains("nixpkgs-unstable.url = \"path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source\""),
-            "expected explicit nixpkgs-unstable.url:\n{out}"
-        );
         assert!(
             out.contains("hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = \"nixpkgs\""),
             "expected hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs.follows:\n{out}"
         );
-        assert!(
-            out.contains("hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs-unstable.follows = \"nixpkgs-unstable\""),
-            "expected hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs-unstable.follows:\n{out}"
-        );
         assert!(
             !out.contains("nixpkgs.follows = \"hyperhive"),
             "old-style follows must not appear when flake args are set:\n{out}"
@@ -1313,7 +1293,6 @@ mod tests {
         let out = render_flake(
             "github:example/hyperhive",
             "",
-            "",
             8000,
             "she/her",
             &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
@@ -1323,10 +1302,6 @@ mod tests {
             out.contains("nixpkgs.follows = \"hyperhive/nixpkgs\""),
             "expected fallback follows:\n{out}"
         );
-        assert!(
-            out.contains("nixpkgs-unstable.follows = \"hyperhive/nixpkgs-unstable\""),
-            "expected fallback unstable follows:\n{out}"
-        );
         assert!(
             !out.contains("nixpkgs.url ="),
             "no explicit url should be emitted in fallback mode:\n{out}"
@@ -1335,19 +1310,17 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn render_flake_emits_follows_for_agents_declaring_nixpkgs() {
-        // Stub lookup: pretend `bitburner` declares `nixpkgs` at its
-        // root, while `argus` has no canonical inputs at all.
+        // Stub lookup: pretend `bitburner` + `dmatrix` declare `nixpkgs`
+        // at their root, while `argus` has no canonical inputs at all.
         let lookup = |name: &str| -> Vec<&'static str> {
             match name {
-                "bitburner" => vec!["nixpkgs"],
-                "dmatrix" => vec!["nixpkgs", "nixpkgs-unstable"],
+                "bitburner" | "dmatrix" => vec!["nixpkgs"],
                 _ => vec![],
             }
         };
         let out = render_flake_with_lookup(
             "github:example/hyperhive",
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
-            "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
             8000,
             "she/her",
             &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
@@ -1363,11 +1336,8 @@ mod tests {
             out.contains("agent-bitburner.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = \"nixpkgs\""),
             "missing bitburner nixpkgs follows:\n{out}"
         );
-        // dmatrix declares both → both follows emitted.
+        // dmatrix declares nixpkgs → follows emitted.
         assert!(out.contains("agent-dmatrix.inputs.nixpkgs.follows = \"nixpkgs\""));
-        assert!(
-            out.contains("agent-dmatrix.inputs.nixpkgs-unstable.follows = \"nixpkgs-unstable\"")
-        );
         // argus declares neither → no follows emitted for it. Asserting
         // ABSENCE is the important bit: emitting a follows on a
         // non-existent input errors at `nix flake lock` time.
@@ -1382,7 +1352,6 @@ mod tests {
         let out = render_flake_with_lookup(
             "github:example/hyperhive",
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
-            "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
             8000,
             "she/her",
             &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
@@ -1416,7 +1385,6 @@ mod tests {
         let out = render_flake(
             "github:example/hyperhive",
             "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
-            "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
             8000,
             "she/her",
             &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
@@ -1464,7 +1432,6 @@ mod tests {
             render_flake(
                 "github:example/hyperhive",
                 "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
-                "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
                 8000,
                 "she/her",
                 &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
@@ -1546,7 +1513,6 @@ mod tests {
             render_flake(
                 "github:example/hyperhive",
                 "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
-                "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
                 8000,
                 "she/her",
                 &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
diff --git a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
index 368a3a04..04edb769 100644
--- a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
+++ b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
   hyperhiveFrontend,
   hyperhiveAssets,
   hyperhiveFlake,
-  hyperhiveNixpkgsUnstable,
   agentBaseToplevel,
   managerToplevel,
 }:
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ let
     builtins.toJSON {
       hyperhive_flake = cfg.hyperhiveFlake;
       nixpkgs_flake = cfg.nixpkgsFlake;
-      nixpkgs_unstable_flake = cfg.nixpkgsUnstableFlake;
       dashboard_port = cfg.dashboardPort;
       operator_pronouns = cfg.operatorPronouns;
       context_window_tokens = cfg.contextWindowTokens;
@@ -569,22 +567,6 @@ in
         of the host's channel.
       '';
     };
-    nixpkgsUnstableFlake = lib.mkOption {
-      type = lib.types.str;
-      default = hyperhiveNixpkgsUnstable;
-      defaultText = lib.literalMD "hyperhive's own `nixpkgs-unstable` store path";
-      description = ''
-        Store-path URL for the `nixpkgs-unstable` input in the generated
-        meta flake. The meta flake declares this as a top-level input and
-        wires `inputs.hyperhive.inputs.nixpkgs-unstable.follows =
-        "nixpkgs-unstable"` so agents use this exact unstable nixpkgs.
-
-        Defaults to the store path of the `nixpkgs-unstable` input
-        hyperhive's own `flake.nix` was evaluated with (the channel that
-        carries `claude-code`). Override when you want to track a newer
-        unstable snapshot or a custom `claude-code` package.
-      '';
-    };
     dashboardPort = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.port;
       default = 7000;