diff --git a/zsh/.zprofile b/zsh/.zprofile
index e69de29..2f0ed04 100644
--- a/zsh/.zprofile
+++ b/zsh/.zprofile
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# source the nix profile if it exists
+if [ -e $HOME/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh ]; then
+    . $HOME/.nix-profile/etc/profile.d/nix.sh
+fi
+
+# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
+if [ -d "$HOME/bin" ] ; then
+    PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
+fi
+
+if [ -d "$HOME/.local/bin" ] ; then
+    PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+fi
diff --git a/zsh/.zshenv b/zsh/.zshenv
index 2feafce..37c2f62 100644
--- a/zsh/.zshenv
+++ b/zsh/.zshenv
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-export PATH=$HOME/bin:$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH
-
 export EDITOR='nvim'
 export VISUAL=$EDITOR