This is definitely a hack

flake.nix

@@ -16,12 +16,15 @@
     home-manager,
     i3utils,
     ...
-  } @ inputs: let
+  }: let
     system = "x86_64-linux";
 
-    pkgs = import nixpkgs {
-      inherit system;
-    };
+    pkgs =
+      (import nixpkgs {
+        inherit system;
+        config.allowUnfree = true;
+      })
+      // {i3utils = i3utils.packages.${system}.default;};
 
     lib = nixpkgs.lib;
 
@@ -31,6 +34,7 @@
     }:
       lib.nixosSystem {
         inherit system;
+        inherit pkgs;
 
         modules = [
           ./hosts/${hostname}/configuration.nix
@@ -47,8 +51,6 @@
             };
           }
         ];
-
-        specialArgs = {inherit inputs;};
       };
   in {
     nixosConfigurations = {