diff --git a/outputs.nix b/outputs.nix
index 4e20afa..a168398 100644
--- a/outputs.nix
+++ b/outputs.nix
@@ -20,13 +20,19 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
         mem = pkgs.lib.mkForce 4096;
         hypervisor = pkgs.lib.mkForce "qemu";
         socket = pkgs.lib.mkForce null;
-        shares = pkgs.lib.mkForce [
+        shares = pkgs.lib.mkForce ([
           {
             tag = "ro-store";
             source = "/nix/store";
             mountPoint = "/nix/.ro-store";
           }
-        ];
+        ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (options.varPath != "") [
+          {
+            source = "${options.varPath}";
+            mountPoint = "/var/lib";
+            tag = "varlib";
+          }
+        ]);
         interfaces = pkgs.lib.mkIf (!options.withNetworking) (pkgs.lib.mkForce [{
           type = "user";
           id = "eth0";
@@ -34,9 +40,16 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
         }]);
       };
 
+      fileSystems = {
+        "/".fsType = pkgs.lib.mkForce "tmpfs";
+        "/var/lib" = pkgs.lib.mkIf (options.varPath != "") {
+          depends = [ "/var" ];
+        };
+      };
+
       boot.isContainer = pkgs.lib.mkForce false;
+      services.timesyncd.enable = false;
       users.users.root.password = "";
-      fileSystems."/".fsType = pkgs.lib.mkForce "tmpfs";
       services.getty.helpLine = ''
         Log in as "root" with an empty password.
         Use "reboot" to shut qemu down.
@@ -69,9 +82,9 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
       }];
     };
 
-    buildVM = host: networking: sopsDummy: disableDisko: (self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.extendModules {
+    buildVM = host: networking: sopsDummy: disableDisko: varPath: (self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.extendModules {
         modules = [
-          (vmMicroVMOverwrites { withNetworking = networking; })
+          (vmMicroVMOverwrites { withNetworking = networking; varPath = "${varPath}"; })
           (if sopsDummy then (vmSopsOverwrites host) else {})
           (if disableDisko then vmDiskoOverwrites else {})
         ] ++ pkgs.lib.optionals (! self.nixosConfigurations.${host}.config ? microvm) [
@@ -138,8 +151,9 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
             echo "Usage: run-vm <hostname> [--networking] [--dummy-secrets] [--no-disko]"
             echo "ATTENTION: This script must be run from the flakes root directory"
             echo "--networking setup interfaces. requires root and hostbridge enabled on the host"
-            echo "--dummy-secrets deploy dummy sops secrets"
-            echo "--no-disko disable disko and initrd secrets. needed for actual hosts like fanny"
+            echo "--dummy-secrets run vm with dummy sops secrets"
+            echo "--no-disko disable disko and initrd secrets. needed for real hosts like fanny"
+            echo "--varlib path to directory that should be shared as /var/lib. may require root otherwise some systemd units fail within vm. if dir is empty vm will populate"
             exit 1
         }
         
@@ -154,6 +168,7 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
         NETWORK=false
         DUMMY_SECRETS=false
         NO_DISKO=false
+        VAR_PATH=""
         
         # check argws
         shift
@@ -162,6 +177,15 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
                 --networking) NETWORK=true ;;
                 --dummy-secrets) DUMMY_SECRETS=true ;;
                 --no-disko) NO_DISKO=true ;;
+                --varlib) 
+                  if [[ -n "$2" && ! "$2" =~ ^- ]]; then
+                      VAR_PATH="$2"
+                      shift
+                  else
+                      echo "Error: --var requires a non-empty string argument."
+                      usage
+                  fi
+                  ;;
                 *) echo "Unknown argument: $1"; usage ;;
             esac
             shift
@@ -170,8 +194,11 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
         echo "enable networking: $NETWORK"
         echo "deploy dummy secrets: $DUMMY_SECRETS"
         echo "disable disko and initrd secrets: $NO_DISKO"
+        if [ -n "$VAR_PATH" ]; then
+          echo "sharing var directory: $VAR_PATH"
+        fi
         
-        ${pkgs.nix}/bin/nix run --impure --expr "((builtins.getFlake \"$(pwd)\").vmBuilder.x86_64-linux \"$HOSTNAME\" $NETWORK $DUMMY_SECRETS $NO_DISKO)"
+        ${pkgs.nix}/bin/nix run --show-trace --impure --expr "((builtins.getFlake \"$(pwd)\").vmBuilder.x86_64-linux \"$HOSTNAME\" $NETWORK $DUMMY_SECRETS $NO_DISKO \"$VAR_PATH\")"
       '';
     };
 
@@ -185,7 +212,7 @@ in (utils.lib.eachSystem (builtins.filter filter_system utils.lib.defaultSystems
 
       run-vm = {
         type = "app";
-        program = self.packages.${system}.run-vm;
+        program = "${self.packages.${system}.run-vm}/bin/run-vm";
       };
     };