diff --git a/home/modules/user.nix b/home/modules/user.nix
index 6c76386..5d6ed00 100644
--- a/home/modules/user.nix
+++ b/home/modules/user.nix
@@ -6,11 +6,18 @@ in
 {
   options.snowhawk.user = {
     enable = lib.mkEnableOption "user";
+
+    username = lib.mkOption {
+      default = "ravenshade";
+      example = "zynh";
+      description = "the username to use. also defines the default home folder as /home/\${username}";
+      type = lib.types.str;
+    };
   };
 
-  config = lib.mkIf cfg.enable rec {
-    home.username = lib.mkDefault "ravenshade";
-    home.homeDirectory = lib.mkDefault "/home/${config.home.username}";
+  config = lib.mkIf cfg.enable {
+    home.username = lib.mkDefault cfg.username;
+    home.homeDirectory = lib.mkDefault "/home/${cfg.username}";
 
     home.sessionPath = [
       "${config.home.homeDirectory}/.cargo/bin"
diff --git a/hosts/caveserver/home.nix b/hosts/caveserver/home.nix
index eb060f4..8c89fe2 100644
--- a/hosts/caveserver/home.nix
+++ b/hosts/caveserver/home.nix
@@ -9,12 +9,10 @@
     enable = true;
     package = inputs.neovim-overlay.packages.${pkgs.system}.default;
   };
-  snowhawk.user.enable = false;
   snowhawk.defaultPrograms.enable = false;
   snowhawk.ssh.enable = true;
 
-
-  home.username = "val";
+  snowhawk.user.username = "val";
 
   home.sessionPath = [
     "${config.home.homeDirectory}/.cargo/bin"