diff --git a/beta/configuration.nix b/beta/configuration.nix
index 117eac1..76b0936 100644
--- a/beta/configuration.nix
+++ b/beta/configuration.nix
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 
   # x86-64 machine
   nixpkgs.hostPlatform = "x86_64-linux";
-  boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;
-  boot.loader.systemd-boot.memtest86.enable = true;
 
   # our hostname
   networking.hostName = "beta";
diff --git a/miku/configuration.nix b/miku/configuration.nix
index 8e2b41c..3ab5d8d 100644
--- a/miku/configuration.nix
+++ b/miku/configuration.nix
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 
   # x86-64 machine
   nixpkgs.hostPlatform = "x86_64-linux";
-  boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;
-  boot.loader.systemd-boot.memtest86.enable = true;
 
   # our hostname
   networking.hostName = "miku";
diff --git a/neko/configuration.nix b/neko/configuration.nix
index 4016935..c22d12c 100644
--- a/neko/configuration.nix
+++ b/neko/configuration.nix
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 
   # x86-64 machine
   nixpkgs.hostPlatform = "x86_64-linux";
-  boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = true;
-  boot.loader.systemd-boot.memtest86.enable = true;
 
   # our hostname
   networking.hostName = "neko";
diff --git a/share/common.nix b/share/common.nix
index 7e25edb..63c2078 100644
--- a/share/common.nix
+++ b/share/common.nix
@@ -116,6 +116,12 @@ in
   # use systemd early, we use boot.initrd.systemd.services.rollback to rollback /
   boot.initrd.systemd.enable = true;
 
+  # works only on x86 machines, not on the Macs
+  boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.isx86;
+
+  # memcheck, works only on x86 machines
+  boot.loader.systemd-boot.memtest86.enable = pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform.isx86;
+
   # setup the console stuff early and use a nice font
   console.earlySetup = true;
   console.font = "${pkgs.spleen}/share/consolefonts/spleen-16x32.psfu";
diff --git a/zeta/configuration.nix b/zeta/configuration.nix
index a987588..3a98fc8 100644
--- a/zeta/configuration.nix
+++ b/zeta/configuration.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
 
   # AArch64 machine
   nixpkgs.hostPlatform = "aarch64-linux";
-  boot.loader.efi.canTouchEfiVariables = false;
 
   # our hostname
   networking.hostName = "zeta";