diff --git a/lib/modules.nix b/lib/modules.nix
index 5843d50306..fa1792756b 100644
--- a/lib/modules.nix
+++ b/lib/modules.nix
@@ -21,12 +21,16 @@ in
     {
       modules ? [ ],
       extraSpecialArgs ? { },
+      system ? null, # Can also be defined using the `nixpkgs.hostPlatform` option
     }:
     # Ensure a suitable `lib` is used
     # TODO: offer a lib overlay that end-users could use to apply nixvim's extensions to their own `lib`
     assert lib.assertMsg (extraSpecialArgs ? lib -> extraSpecialArgs.lib ? nixvim) ''
       Nixvim requires a lib that includes some custom extensions, however the `lib` from `specialArgs` does not have a `nixvim` attr.
       Remove `lib` from nixvim's `specialArgs` or ensure you apply nixvim's extensions to your `lib`.'';
+    assert lib.assertMsg (system != null -> lib.isString system) ''
+      When `system` is supplied to `evalNixvim`, it must be a string.
+      To define a more complex system, please use nixvim's `nixpkgs.hostPlatform` option.'';
     lib.evalModules {
       modules = modules ++ [
         ../modules/top-level
@@ -34,6 +38,12 @@ in
           _file = "<nixvim-flake>";
           flake = lib.mkOptionDefault flake;
         }
+        (lib.optionalAttrs (lib.isString system) {
+          _file = "evalNixvim";
+          # FIXME: what priority should this have?
+          # If the user has set it as an evalNixvim arg _and_ a module option what behaviour would they expect?
+          nixpkgs.hostPlatform = lib.mkOptionDefault { inherit system; };
+        })
       ];
       specialArgs = {
         inherit lib;
diff --git a/modules/top-level/nixpkgs.nix b/modules/top-level/nixpkgs.nix
index 39e3bb92ac..fc93004e25 100644
--- a/modules/top-level/nixpkgs.nix
+++ b/modules/top-level/nixpkgs.nix
@@ -190,7 +190,8 @@ in
       apply = lib.systems.elaborate;
       defaultText = lib.literalMD ''
         Inherited from the "host" configuration's `pkgs`.
-        Must be specified manually when building a standalone nixvim.
+        Or the `evalNixvim`'s `system` argument.
+        Otherwise, must be specified manually.
       '';
       description = ''
         Specifies the platform where the Nixvim configuration will run.