diff --git a/shell.nix b/shell.nix
index c6dcf0b..234b74d 100644
--- a/shell.nix
+++ b/shell.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
   sqlx-cli,
   cargo-nextest,
 
+  # nix jemalloc for some tests that use jemalloc
+  rust-jemalloc-sys,
+
   # frontend tooling
   svelte-language-server,
   typescript-language-server,
@@ -44,6 +47,8 @@ mkShell {
     sqlx-cli
     cargo-nextest
 
+    rust-jemalloc-sys
+
     svelte-language-server
     typescript-language-server
   ];