diff --git a/configs/client.nix b/configs/client.nix
index 77a7939..817daa5 100644
--- a/configs/client.nix
+++ b/configs/client.nix
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
     ../programs/rust.nix
   ];
 
+  boot.kernelPackages = pkgs.linuxPackages; # lts
+
   environment = {
     systemPackages = with pkgs; [
       ffmpeg-full
diff --git a/configs/common.nix b/configs/common.nix
index 2475a9e..fca70e9 100644
--- a/configs/common.nix
+++ b/configs/common.nix
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ in
   };
 
   boot = {
-    kernelPackages = lib.mkDefault pkgs.linuxPackages; # use lts
+    # see ./server.nix and ./client.nix for kernel versions
     kernelParams = [
       "quiet"
       "loglevel=3"
diff --git a/configs/desktop.nix b/configs/desktop.nix
index fa23ee2..027c807 100644
--- a/configs/desktop.nix
+++ b/configs/desktop.nix
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
   ];
 
   boot = {
-    kernelPackages = pkgs.linuxPackages_latest;
-
     extraModulePackages = with config.boot.kernelPackages; [ v4l2loopback ];
     kernelModules = [ "v4l2loopback" ];
 
diff --git a/configs/server.nix b/configs/server.nix
index fcac1d7..d63df0f 100644
--- a/configs/server.nix
+++ b/configs/server.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ in
     secrets.generate
   ];
 
+  boot.kernelPackages = pkgs.linuxPackages_6_6;
+
   environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
     ghostty.terminfo
   ];