diff --git a/nix-darwin/default.nix b/nix-darwin/default.nix
index b637d34b..3e4bcb38 100644
--- a/nix-darwin/default.nix
+++ b/nix-darwin/default.nix
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ let
 
     config = {
       submoduleSupport.enable = true;
+      submoduleSupport.externalPackageInstall = cfg.useUserPackages;
+
       home.username = config.users.users.${name}.name;
       home.homeDirectory = config.users.users.${name}.home;
     };
@@ -20,12 +22,19 @@ in
 
 {
   options = {
-    home-manager.users = mkOption {
-      type = types.attrsOf hmModule;
-      default = {};
-      description = ''
-        Per-user Home Manager configuration.
+    home-manager = {
+      useUserPackages = mkEnableOption ''
+        installation of user packages through the
+        <option>users.users.&lt;name?&gt;.packages</option> option.
       '';
+
+      users = mkOption {
+        type = types.attrsOf hmModule;
+        default = {};
+        description = ''
+          Per-user Home Manager configuration.
+        '';
+      };
     };
   };