diff --git a/machines/modules/host_builder.nix b/machines/modules/host_builder.nix
index d1fc74de..0fe75743 100644
--- a/machines/modules/host_builder.nix
+++ b/machines/modules/host_builder.nix
@@ -195,8 +195,7 @@ rec {
 
   vmNestedMicroVMOverwrites = host: sopsDummy: {
 
-    services.malobeo.microvm.deployHosts = pkgs.lib.mkForce [];
-    microvm.vms = 
+    microvm.vms = pkgs.lib.mkForce (
     let
       # Map the values to each hostname to then generate an Attrset using listToAttrs
       mapperFunc = name: { inherit name; value = {
@@ -216,7 +215,7 @@ rec {
         };
       }; };
     in
-    builtins.listToAttrs (map mapperFunc self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.config.services.malobeo.microvm.deployHosts);
+    builtins.listToAttrs (map mapperFunc self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.config.services.malobeo.microvm.deployHosts));
   };
 
   buildVM = host: networking: sopsDummy: disableDisko: varPath: writableStore: fwdPort: (self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.extendModules {
diff --git a/machines/modules/malobeo/microvm_host.nix b/machines/modules/malobeo/microvm_host.nix
index f6655539..9b67d63c 100644
--- a/machines/modules/malobeo/microvm_host.nix
+++ b/machines/modules/malobeo/microvm_host.nix
@@ -102,6 +102,22 @@ in
           /run/current-system/sw/bin/microvm -Ru ${name}
         '';
       };
+
+      "microvm-init-dirs@${name}" = {
+        description = "Initialize microvm directories";
+        after = [ "zfs-mount.service" ];
+        wantedBy = [ "microvm@${name}.service" ];
+        unitConfig.ConditionPathExists = "!/var/lib/microvms/${name}/.is_initialized";
+        serviceConfig = {
+          Type = "oneshot";
+        };
+        script = ''
+          mkdir -p /var/lib/microvms/${name}/var
+          mkdir -p /var/lib/microvms/${name}/etc
+          mkdir -p /var/lib/microvms/data/${name}
+          touch /var/lib/microvms/${name}/.is_initialized
+        '';
+      };
     }) {} (cfg.deployHosts);
 
     systemd.timers = builtins.foldl' (timers: name: timers // {