diff --git a/nix/ops/default.nix b/nix/ops/default.nix
index 7c15fb176..7412ecb58 100644
--- a/nix/ops/default.nix
+++ b/nix/ops/default.nix
@@ -10,6 +10,13 @@ let
   bootbrass = ../../bin/brass.pill;
   bootsolid = ../../bin/solid.pill;
 
+  rawzod = import ./fakeship {
+    inherit pkgs tlon deps debug;
+    pill = bootsolid;
+    ship = "zod";
+    arvo = null;
+  };
+
   zod = import ./fakeship {
     inherit pkgs tlon deps arvo debug;
     pill = bootsolid;
@@ -33,7 +40,7 @@ rec {
 
   solid = import ./solid {
     inherit arvo pkgs tlon deps debug;
-    pier = zod;
+    pier = rawzod;
   };
 
   brass = import ./brass {
diff --git a/nix/ops/fakeship/builder.sh b/nix/ops/fakeship/builder.sh
index f7603170a..94736ad0f 100755
--- a/nix/ops/fakeship/builder.sh
+++ b/nix/ops/fakeship/builder.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@ source $stdenv/setup
 
 set -ex
 
-$URBIT -d -F $SHIP -A "$ARVO" -B "$PILL" $out
+if [ -z "$ARVO" ]
+then
+    $URBIT -d -F $SHIP -B "$PILL" $out
+else
+    $URBIT -d -F $SHIP -A "$ARVO" -B "$PILL" $out
+fi
 
 check () {
   [ 3 -eq "$(herb $out -d 3)" ]
diff --git a/nix/ops/solid/builder.sh b/nix/ops/solid/builder.sh
index 943d4f2b6..16451b123 100755
--- a/nix/ops/solid/builder.sh
+++ b/nix/ops/solid/builder.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,15 @@ cleanup () {
 
 trap cleanup EXIT
 
-herb ./pier -P solid.pill -d '+solid, =dub &'
+herb ./pier -p hood -d '+hood/merge %stage our %home'
+herb ./pier -p hood -d "+hood/mount /=stage="
+
+rm -r ./pier/stage
+cp -r $ARVO ./pier/stage
+
+herb ./pier -p hood -d "+hood/commit %stage"
+
+herb ./pier -P solid.pill -d '+solid /=stage=/sys, =dub &'
 
 mv solid.pill $out