nh home switch fails to activate configuration: “No such file or directory (os error 2)”

[mateowoetam]

I have confirmed that this is a bug related to nh

• This is a bug, and not an user error or a support request. I understand that my issue will be closed if it is not a bug in NH.
• I have checked the issues tab and confirmed that my issue has not yet been reported. I understand that my issue will be closed if it is a duplicate.

Description

When running nh home switch -a -d auto --cores 10 --accept-flake-config activation fails with these errors

Error:
   0: Activation failed
   1: Activating configuration
   2: No such file or directory (os error 2)
   3: No such file or directory (os error 2)

while home-manager switch --flake /etc/nixos/ works fine.
The error is reproducible and does not occur with direct home-manager switch usage.

here's more details of the verbose output, my config, and directory tree:
nh.txt

Installation Method

Stable Release (nixpkgs, pkgs.nh from nixos-unstable or nixos-yy-mm)

Installation Method (Other)

No response

NH Version

/etc/nixos ❱ nh --version
nh 4.2.0

System Information

/etc/nixos ❱ nix-info --markdown
 - system: "x86_64-linux"
 - host os: Linux 6.17.3-cachyos, NixOS, 25.11 (Xantusia), 25.11.20251022.01f116e
 - multi-user?: yes
 - sandbox: yes
 - version: nix-env (Nix) 2.31.2
 - nixpkgs: /nix/store/sqilaxdxljyalv530z1qrd1q3nd4lyxq-source