diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/cmd/output.go b/pkgs/oizys/cmd/output.go
index 7eafba9..e4f1a2f 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/cmd/output.go
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/cmd/output.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+
 	"oizys/internal/oizys"
 )
 
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/cmd/root.go b/pkgs/oizys/cmd/root.go
index fb18888..f5c4ec2 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/cmd/root.go
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/cmd/root.go
@@ -48,11 +48,8 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		}
 		oizys.SetFlake(flake)
 		oizys.SetHost(host)
-		oizys.SetCache(cacheName) // TODO: move
 		oizys.SetVerbose(verbose)
 		oizys.SetResetCache(resetCache)
-
-		oizys.CheckFlake()
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/pkgs/oizys/internal/oizys/main.go b/pkgs/oizys/internal/oizys/main.go
index c6951ba..9469d52 100644
--- a/pkgs/oizys/internal/oizys/main.go
+++ b/pkgs/oizys/internal/oizys/main.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss"
 
-	"github.com/briandowns/spinner"
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/log"
 )
 
@@ -55,9 +54,19 @@ func New() *Oizys {
 }
 
 func SetFlake(path string) {
+	// Check path exists
 	if path != "" {
 		o.flake = path
 	}
+	// check local path exists
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(o.flake, "github") && !strings.HasPrefix(o.flake, "git+") {
+		if _, ok := os.LookupEnv("OIZYS_SKIP_CHECK"); !ok {
+			if _, err := os.Stat(o.flake); errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
+				log.Warnf("path to flake %s does not exist, using remote as fallback", o.flake)
+				o.flake = "github:daylinmorgan/oizys"
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func SetCache(name string) {
@@ -131,24 +140,6 @@ func Output() string {
 	}
 }
 
-// func (o *Oizys) Set(
-// 	flake, host, cache string,
-// 	verbose, systemPath, resetCache bool,
-// ) {
-// 	if host != "" {
-// 		o.host = host
-// 	}
-// 	if flake != "" {
-// 		o.flake = flake
-// 	}
-// 	if cache != "" {
-// 		o.cache = cache
-// 	}
-// 	o.verbose = verbose
-// 	o.systemPath = systemPath
-// 	o.resetCache = resetCache
-// }
-
 func git(rest ...string) *exec.Cmd {
 	args := []string{"-C", o.flake}
 	args = append(args, rest...)
@@ -497,11 +488,6 @@ func CacheBuild(rest ...string) {
 }
 
 func CheckFlake() {
-	if _, ok := os.LookupEnv("OIZYS_SKIP_CHECK"); !ok {
-		if _, err := os.Stat(o.flake); errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {
-			log.Fatalf("path to flake: %s does not exist", o.flake)
-		}
-	}
 }
 
 func CI(rest ...string) {
@@ -511,10 +497,10 @@ func CI(rest ...string) {
 	exitWithCommand(cmd)
 }
 
-// TODO: deprecate
-func nixSpinner(host string) *spinner.Spinner {
-	msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", " evaluating derivation for:",
-		lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("6")).Render(host),
-	)
-	return startSpinner(msg)
-}
+// // TODO: deprecate
+// func nixSpinner(host string) *spinner.Spinner {
+// 	msg := fmt.Sprintf("%s %s", " evaluating derivation for:",
+// 		lipgloss.NewStyle().Bold(true).Foreground(lipgloss.Color("6")).Render(host),
+// 	)
+// 	return startSpinner(msg)
+// }