diff --git a/nixos-config/configuration.nix b/nixos-config/configuration.nix
index c1725ef0..9754d1e9 100644
--- a/nixos-config/configuration.nix
+++ b/nixos-config/configuration.nix
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ in
       enable = true;
       wayland = true;
     };
+    windowManager.openbox.enable = true;
   };
 
   # enable gvfs service
diff --git a/nixos-config/system-packages.nix b/nixos-config/system-packages.nix
index 77728883..79ce0f67 100644
--- a/nixos-config/system-packages.nix
+++ b/nixos-config/system-packages.nix
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
     polkit_gnome # graphical authentication agent for polkit
     freetype # font rendering and configuration
     open-vm-tools # running on vmware
+    openbox # window manager for debugging in VMs
   ];
 
   fonts.fonts = with pkgs; [