diff --git a/bin/init-dotfiles b/bin/init-dotfiles
index 1166982..4ccd4bc 100755
--- a/bin/init-dotfiles
+++ b/bin/init-dotfiles
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env sh
 
+head /etc/os-release -n 1 | grep 'NixOS$'; test $? -eq 1; is_nixos=$?
+head /etc/os-release -n 1 | grep 'Arch Linux'; test $? -eq 1; is_arch_linux=$?
+
 set -e
 
 # NOTE: run this from inside a Linux installation, not from the live USB/CD
@@ -63,11 +66,28 @@ setup_dotfiles() {
 	./bin/setup-dotfiles
 }
 
+distro_specific_root_setup() {
+	if test $is_nixos -eq 1 then
+		symlink_nixos "$root_home$dotfiles/env/nix/"
+		add_unstable_channel
+		nixos-rebuild switch
+	elif test $is_arch_linux -eq 1
+		# TODO: install any necessary packages for remaining setup portion
+	fi
+}
+
+distro_specific_user_setup() {
+	if test $is_nixos -eq 1 then
+		FUNC=$(declare -f symlink_nixos)
+		sudo sh -c "$FUNC; symlink_nixos \"$daniel_home$dotfiles/env/nix/\""
+	elif test $is_arch_linux -eq 1
+		# TODO: setup all the things
+	fi
+}
+
 init_for_root() {
 	clone_dotfiles "$root_home$dotfiles"
-	symlink_nixos "$root_home$dotfiles/env/nix/"
-	add_unstable_channel
-	nixos-rebuild switch
+	distro_specific_setup
 	chown daniel:users "$daniel_home"
 	echo "Re-running as user daniel..."
 	sudo --user daniel "$root_home$dotfiles/init.sh"
@@ -76,8 +96,7 @@ init_for_root() {
 init_for_daniel() {
 	clone_dotfiles "$daniel_home$dotfiles"
 	generate_ssh_key
-	FUNC=$(declare -f symlink_nixos)
-	sudo sh -c "$FUNC; symlink_nixos \"$daniel_home$dotfiles/env/nix/\""
+	distro_specific_user_setup
 	setup_wallpaper
 	# TODO: setup ssh/gpg keys
 	# TODO: setup password store