diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim
index 083182b..a6d3507 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys.nim
@@ -28,10 +28,9 @@ hwylCli:
     `reset-cache`:
       ? "set cache timeout to 0"
       ident resetCache
-    substitute:
-      ? "use builtin substituter"
-      - s
-
+    bootstrap:
+      ? "enable bootstrap mode"
+      - b
     [misc]
     yes:
       - y
@@ -41,7 +40,7 @@ hwylCli:
       - m
   preSub:
     setupLoggers()
-    updateContext(host, flake, verbose, resetCache, substitute)
+    updateContext(host, flake, verbose, resetCache, bootstrap)
 
   subcommands:
     [build]
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim
index 9683f11..4a6cf28 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/context.nim
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ type
     ci: bool
     verbose: Count
     resetCache: bool
-    substitute: bool
+    bootstrap: bool
 
 let currentHost* = getHostName()
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ proc getFlake*(): string      = return oc.flake
 proc isResetCache*(): bool    = return oc.resetCache
 proc isCi*(): bool            = return oc.ci
 proc isLocal*(): bool         = return oc.flake.dirExists
-proc isSubstitute*(): bool     = return oc.substitute
+proc isBootstrap*(): bool     = return oc.bootstrap
 
 
 
@@ -50,22 +50,21 @@ proc updateContext*(
   flake: string,
   verbose: Count,
   resetCache: bool,
-  substitute: bool
+  bootstrap: bool,
 ) =
   oc.verbose = verbose
-  oc.substitute = substitute
+  oc.bootstrap = bootstrap
   if host.len > 0: oc.hosts = host
   if verbose.val > 1:
     consoleLogger.levelThreshold = lvlAll
   oc.resetCache = resetCache
   if flake != "":
     oc.flake =
-      if flake.startsWith("github") or flake.startsWith("git+"): flake
+      if bootstrap: oc.flake
+      elif flake.startsWith("github") or flake.startsWith("git+"): flake
       else: checkPath(flake.normalizedPath().absolutePath())
 
   debug bb(fmt"""[b]flake[/]: {oc.flake}, [b]hosts[/]: {oc.hosts.join(" ")}""")
-  if not isLocal():
+  if not (isLocal() and isBootstrap()):
     warn "not using local directory for flake"
 
-
-
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim
index 2a4fdb7..e0ab415 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/src/oizys/nix.nim
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ type
     `extra-substituters`: seq[string]
     `extra-trusted-public-keys`: seq[string]
 
+# TODO: replace with nim string defines?
 func makeSubFlags(): seq[string] =
   let subs = slurp("substituters.json").fromJson(Substituters)
   for k, v in subs.fieldPairs():
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ proc nixCommand*(cmd: string, nom: bool = false): string =
     result.addArg "--narinfo-cache-negative-ttl 0"
   if not (nom or isCi()):
     result.addArg "--log-format multiline"
-  if isSubstitute():
+  if isBootstrap():
     result.addArgs subFlags
 
 proc nixosConfigAttr(host: string): string =