So, if there are files sitting around in /run, they do not get cleaned up unless it is something guix is already aware of (e.g. /run/setuid-programs). I noticed this when experimenting with: https://issues.guix.gnu.org/61462 Add support for file capabilities(7) Even after a reboot, the leftovers from that experimental patchset were still present in /run... While I know that Guix does not really follow the FHS in most respects, maybe the intention of /run defined there should still be respected? https://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS_3.0/fhs/ch03s15.html 3.15. /run : Run-time variable data 3.15.1. Purpose This directory contains system information data describing the system since it was booted. Files under this directory must be cleared (removed or truncated as appropriate) at the beginning of the boot process. ... Many distros implement this by having /run on a tmpfs, but making sure to clean up /run at boot seems like a reasonable thing to do at the very least. I am not sure if it makes sense to do housecleaning of /run from guix system reconfigure ... as there may be legitimate uses for other processes to write there. live well, vagrant