diff --git a/lix/libcmd/cmd-profiles.hh b/lix/libcmd/cmd-profiles.hh
index 322154803..ef8c74156 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/cmd-profiles.hh
+++ b/lix/libcmd/cmd-profiles.hh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "lix/libcmd/built-path.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/get-drvs.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/types.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/json-fwd.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/command.cc b/lix/libcmd/command.cc
index 812f8b446..6836c024f 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/command.cc
+++ b/lix/libcmd/command.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "lix/libcmd/command.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/init.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/local-fs-store.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/derivations.hh"
@@ -119,6 +120,8 @@ ref<eval_cache::CachingEvaluator> EvalCommand::getEvaluator()
             startReplOnEvalErrors ? AbstractNixRepl::runSimple : nullptr
         );
 
+        flake::initFlakes(evalState.get());
+
         evalState->repair = repair;
     }
     return ref<eval_cache::CachingEvaluator>::unsafeFromPtr(evalState);
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/command.hh b/lix/libcmd/command.hh
index da8cc4934..8add3435d 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/command.hh
+++ b/lix/libcmd/command.hh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include "lix/libutil/args.hh"
 #include "lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/path.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
 
 #include <optional>
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc b/lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc
index eee525ce6..28744d2a1 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc
+++ b/lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.cc
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
 #include "lix/libfetchers/fetchers.hh"
 #include "lix/libfetchers/registry.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libcmd/command.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/installable-attr-path.cc b/lix/libcmd/installable-attr-path.cc
index 72db441e9..d7d1a95fc 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/installable-attr-path.cc
+++ b/lix/libcmd/installable-attr-path.cc
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/get-drvs.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/installable-flake.cc b/lix/libcmd/installable-flake.cc
index 988248d93..91c025758 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/installable-flake.cc
+++ b/lix/libcmd/installable-flake.cc
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "lix/libexpr/attr-path.hh"
 #include "lix/libcmd/common-eval-args.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-cache.hh"
 
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/installable-value.hh b/lix/libcmd/installable-value.hh
index 04f630650..7e8bd3862 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/installable-value.hh
+++ b/lix/libcmd/installable-value.hh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "lix/libcmd/installables.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-cache.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/installables.cc b/lix/libcmd/installables.cc
index a18323f69..2954c2582 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/installables.cc
+++ b/lix/libcmd/installables.cc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-settings.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libmain/shared.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-cache.hh"
 #include "lix/libfetchers/registry.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/build-result.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/meson.build b/lix/libcmd/meson.build
index e76faed89..70c1e4903 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/meson.build
+++ b/lix/libcmd/meson.build
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ libcmd = library(
     liblixstore,
     liblixfetchers,
     liblixexpr,
+    liblixflakes,
     liblixmain,
     liblix_doc,
     boehm,
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ liblixcmd = declare_dependency(
   dependencies : [
     liblixutil,
     liblixstore,
+    liblixflakes,
     kj,
   ],
   link_with : libcmd,
diff --git a/lix/libcmd/repl.cc b/lix/libcmd/repl.cc
index b737e5521..887ffa457 100644
--- a/lix/libcmd/repl.cc
+++ b/lix/libcmd/repl.cc
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@
 #include "lix/libexpr/get-drvs.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/derivations.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/globals.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh"
 #include "lix/libcmd/editor-for.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/finally.hh"
 #include "lix/libcmd/markdown.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/builtins/import.md b/lix/libexpr/builtins/import.md
index ec43e9c2c..32be2a2ff 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/builtins/import.md
+++ b/lix/libexpr/builtins/import.md
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ renameInGlobalScope: false
 Load, parse and return the Nix expression in the file *path*.
 
 The value *path* can be a path, a string, or an attribute set with an
-`__toString` attribute or a `outPath` attribute (as derivations or flake
-inputs typically have).
+`__toString` attribute or a `outPath` attribute (as derivations typically have).
 
 If *path* is a directory, the file `default.nix` in that directory
 is loaded.
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/eval-settings.cc b/lix/libexpr/eval-settings.cc
index 6cddff707..59c9536b2 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/eval-settings.cc
+++ b/lix/libexpr/eval-settings.cc
@@ -6,48 +6,12 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
-/* Very hacky way to parse $NIX_PATH, which is colon-separated, but
-   can contain URLs (e.g. "nixpkgs=https://bla...:foo=https://"). */
-static Strings parseNixPath(const std::string & s)
-{
-    Strings res;
-
-    auto p = s.begin();
-
-    while (p != s.end()) {
-        auto start = p;
-        auto start2 = p;
-
-        while (p != s.end() && *p != ':') {
-            if (*p == '=') start2 = p + 1;
-            ++p;
-        }
-
-        if (p == s.end()) {
-            if (p != start) res.push_back(std::string(start, p));
-            break;
-        }
-
-        if (*p == ':') {
-            auto prefix = std::string(start2, s.end());
-            if (EvalSettings::isPseudoUrl(prefix) || prefix.starts_with("flake:")) {
-                ++p;
-                while (p != s.end() && *p != ':') ++p;
-            }
-            res.push_back(std::string(start, p));
-            if (p == s.end()) break;
-        }
-
-        ++p;
-    }
-
-    return res;
-}
 
 EvalSettings::EvalSettings()
 {
-    auto var = getEnv("NIX_PATH");
-    if (var) nixPath.setDefault(parseNixPath(*var));
+    //auto var = getEnv("NIX_PATH");
+    // TODO(flakes): move that allowed prefix and parse it from eval plugins.
+    //if (var) nixPath.setDefault(parseNixPath(*var, ));
 }
 
 Strings EvalSettings::getDefaultNixPath()
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/eval.cc b/lix/libexpr/eval.cc
index d532d5da9..1d534cb04 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/eval.cc
+++ b/lix/libexpr/eval.cc
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include "lix/libexpr/print.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/gc-small-vector.hh"
 #include "lix/libfetchers/fetch-to-store.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libfetchers/fetchers.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/exit.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/json.hh"
 #include "symbol-table.hh"
@@ -318,14 +318,16 @@ EvalBuiltins::EvalBuiltins(
 EvalPaths::EvalPaths(
     AsyncIoRoot & aio,
     const ref<Store> & store,
-    SearchPath searchPath,
+    SearchPath initialSearchPath,
+    bool pureEval,
     EvalErrorContext & errors
 )
     : store(store)
-    , searchPath_(std::move(searchPath))
+    , searchPath_(std::move(initialSearchPath))
+    , pureEval(pureEval)
     , errors(errors)
 {
-    if (evalSettings.restrictEval || evalSettings.pureEval) {
+    if (evalSettings.restrictEval || pureEval) {
         allowedPaths = AllowedPath{.allowAllChildren = false};
 
         for (auto & i : searchPath_.elements) {
@@ -349,6 +351,70 @@ EvalPaths::EvalPaths(
     }
 }
 
+/* Very hacky way to parse $NIX_PATH, which is colon-separated, but
+   can contain URLs (e.g. "nixpkgs=https://bla...:foo=https://"). */
+static Strings parseNixPath(const std::string & s, const std::set<std::string> & allowedPrefixes)
+{
+    Strings res;
+
+    auto p = s.begin();
+
+    while (p != s.end()) {
+        auto start = p;
+        auto start2 = p;
+
+        while (p != s.end() && *p != ':') {
+            if (*p == '=') start2 = p + 1;
+            ++p;
+        }
+
+        if (p == s.end()) {
+            if (p != start) res.push_back(std::string(start, p));
+            break;
+        }
+
+        if (*p == ':') {
+            auto prefix = std::string(start2, s.end());
+
+            auto matchesAllowedPrefixes = std::any_of(
+                    allowedPrefixes.begin(),
+                    allowedPrefixes.end(),
+                    [&](const std::string & allowedPrefix) {
+                        return prefix.starts_with(allowedPrefix);
+                    }
+            );
+            if (EvalSettings::isPseudoUrl(prefix) || matchesAllowedPrefixes) {
+                ++p;
+                while (p != s.end() && *p != ':') ++p;
+            }
+            res.push_back(std::string(start, p));
+            if (p == s.end()) break;
+        }
+
+        ++p;
+    }
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+void EvalPaths::parseAndConfigureEnvironmentNixPath(std::string const & value)
+{
+    if (!pureEval) {
+        for (auto & elem : parseNixPath(value, allowedNixPathPrefixes)) {
+            searchPath_.elements.emplace_back(SearchPath::Elem::parse(elem));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void EvalPaths::configureSettingNixPath(std::list<std::string> const & values)
+{
+    if (!pureEval) {
+        for (auto & elem : values) {
+            searchPath_.elements.emplace_back(SearchPath::Elem::parse(elem));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 Evaluator::Evaluator(
     AsyncIoRoot & aio,
     const SearchPath & _searchPath,
@@ -357,16 +423,7 @@ Evaluator::Evaluator(
     std::function<ReplExitStatus(EvalState & es, ValMap const & extraEnv)> debugRepl
 )
     : s(symbols)
-    , paths(aio, store, [&] {
-        SearchPath searchPath;
-        if (!evalSettings.pureEval) {
-            for (auto & i : _searchPath.elements)
-                searchPath.elements.emplace_back(SearchPath::Elem {i});
-            for (auto & i : evalSettings.nixPath.get())
-                searchPath.elements.emplace_back(SearchPath::Elem::parse(i));
-        }
-        return searchPath;
-    }(), errors)
+    , paths(aio, store, _searchPath, evalSettings.pureEval, errors)
     , builtins(mem, symbols, paths.searchPath(), store->config().storeDir)
     , repair(NoRepair)
     , store(store)
@@ -392,6 +449,11 @@ Evaluator::Evaluator(
 box_ptr<EvalState> Evaluator::begin(AsyncIoRoot & aio)
 {
     assert(!activeEval);
+    if (auto envNixPath = getEnvNonEmpty("NIX_PATH")) {
+        paths.parseAndConfigureEnvironmentNixPath(*envNixPath);
+    } else {
+        paths.configureSettingNixPath(evalSettings.nixPath);
+    }
     return box_ptr<EvalState>::unsafeFromNonnull(
         std::unique_ptr<EvalState>(new EvalState(aio, *this))
     );
@@ -2972,7 +3034,12 @@ try {
 
     std::optional<std::string> res;
 
-    if (EvalSettings::isPseudoUrl(value)) {
+    for (auto & responder : searchPathResponders) {
+        if (responder.canResolve(value))
+            res = TRY_AWAIT(responder.resolve(value, store));
+    }
+
+    if (!res && EvalSettings::isPseudoUrl(value)) {
         try {
             auto storePath = TRY_AWAIT(fetchers::downloadTarball(
                 store, EvalSettings::resolvePseudoUrl(value), "source", false)).tree.storePath;
@@ -2984,16 +3051,7 @@ try {
         }
     }
 
-    else if (value.starts_with("flake:")) {
-        experimentalFeatureSettings.require(Xp::Flakes);
-        auto flakeRef = parseFlakeRef(value.substr(6), {}, true, false);
-        debug("fetching flake search path element '%s''", value);
-        auto storePath =
-            TRY_AWAIT(TRY_AWAIT(flakeRef.resolve(store)).fetchTree(store)).first.storePath;
-        res = {store->toRealPath(storePath)};
-    }
-
-    else {
+    else if (!res) {
         auto path = absPath(value);
         if (pathExists(path))
             res = { path };
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/eval.hh b/lix/libexpr/eval.hh
index 22fa12723..c77a5ec99 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/eval.hh
+++ b/lix/libexpr/eval.hh
@@ -320,20 +320,47 @@ struct EvalErrorContext
 
 class EvalPaths
 {
+    struct Responder {
+        std::function<bool (std::string const &)> canResolve;
+        std::function<kj::Promise<Result<std::optional<std::string>>> (std::string const &, ref<Store>)> resolve;
+    };
+
     ref<Store> store;
+    std::set<std::string> allowedNixPathPrefixes;
+    std::vector<Responder> searchPathResponders;
     SearchPath searchPath_;
+    bool pureEval;
     EvalErrorContext & errors;
 
 public:
     EvalPaths(
         AsyncIoRoot & aio,
         const ref<Store> & store,
-        SearchPath searchPath,
+        SearchPath initialSearchPath,
+        bool pureEval,
         EvalErrorContext & errors
     );
 
+    void parseAndConfigureEnvironmentNixPath(std::string const & value);
+    void configureSettingNixPath(std::list<std::string> const & value);
+
     const SearchPath & searchPath() const { return searchPath_; }
 
+    std::string resolvePseudoUrl(std::string_view url) {
+        if (url.starts_with("channel:"))
+            return "https://channels.nixos.org/" + std::string(url.substr(8)) + "/nixexprs.tar.xz";
+        else
+            return std::string(url);
+    }
+
+    bool registerAllowedNixPathPrefix(const std::string & allowedPrefix) {
+        auto [_, added] = allowedNixPathPrefixes.insert(allowedPrefix);
+        return added;
+    }
+    void registerSearchPathResolver(std::function<bool (std::string const &)> eligible, std::function<kj::Promise<Result<std::optional<std::string>>> (std::string const & value, ref<Store> store)> resolver) {
+        searchPathResponders.push_back({.canResolve=eligible,.resolve=resolver});
+    }
+
 private:
     struct AllowedPath
     {
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/extra-primops.hh b/lix/libexpr/extra-primops.hh
index 745acbc94..a77335258 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/extra-primops.hh
+++ b/lix/libexpr/extra-primops.hh
@@ -19,12 +19,4 @@ void prim_getContext(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
 void prim_hasContext(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
 void prim_unsafeDiscardOutputDependency(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
 
-namespace flake {
-
-void prim_flakeRefToString(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
-void prim_getFlake(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
-void prim_parseFlakeRef(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
-
-}
-
 }
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/meson.build b/lix/libexpr/meson.build
index 199b12de4..e1cac8609 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/meson.build
+++ b/lix/libexpr/meson.build
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ foreach header : [ 'imported-drv-to-derivation.nix', 'fetchurl.nix' ]
     install_dir : includedir / 'lix/libexpr',
   )
 endforeach
-subdir('flake')
 
 libexpr_setting_definitions = files(
   # keep-sorted start
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ builtin_definitions = files(
   'builtins/filter.md',
   'builtins/filterSource.md',
   'builtins/findFile.md',
-  'builtins/flakeRefToString.md',
   'builtins/floor.md',
   'builtins/foldlStrict.md',
   'builtins/fromJSON.md',
@@ -90,7 +88,6 @@ builtin_definitions = files(
   'builtins/getAttr.md',
   'builtins/getContext.md',
   'builtins/getEnv.md',
-  'builtins/getFlake.md',
   'builtins/groupBy.md',
   'builtins/hasAttr.md',
   'builtins/hasContext.md',
@@ -116,7 +113,6 @@ builtin_definitions = files(
   'builtins/match.md',
   'builtins/mul.md',
   'builtins/parseDrvName.md',
-  'builtins/parseFlakeRef.md',
   'builtins/partition.md',
   'builtins/path.md',
   'builtins/pathExists.md',
@@ -207,10 +203,6 @@ libexpr_sources = files(
   'eval-error.cc',
   'eval-settings.cc',
   'eval.cc',
-  'flake/config.cc',
-  'flake/flake.cc',
-  'flake/flakeref.cc',
-  'flake/lockfile.cc',
   'function-trace.cc',
   'gc-alloc.cc',
   'get-drvs.cc',
@@ -242,9 +234,6 @@ libexpr_headers = files(
   'eval-inline.hh',
   'eval-settings.hh',
   'eval.hh',
-  'flake/flake.hh',
-  'flake/flakeref.hh',
-  'flake/lockfile.hh',
   'function-trace.hh',
   'gc-alloc.hh',
   'gc-small-vector.hh',
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/settings/pure-eval.md b/lix/libexpr/settings/pure-eval.md
index a87f7c63c..06241d4b1 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/settings/pure-eval.md
+++ b/lix/libexpr/settings/pure-eval.md
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ Pure evaluation mode ensures that the result of Nix expressions is fully determi
 
     Access is nonetheless allowed to (absolute) paths in the Nix store that are returned by builtins like [`builtins.filterSource`](@docroot@/language/builtins.md#builtins-filterSource), [`builtins.fetchTarball`](@docroot@/language/builtins.md#builtins-fetchTarball) and similar.
   - Impure fetches such as not specifying a commit ID for `builtins.fetchGit` or not specifying a hash for `builtins.fetchTarball` are rejected.
-  - In flakes, access to relative paths outside of the root of the flake's source tree (often, a git repository) is rejected.
 - The evaluator ignores `NIX_PATH`, `-I` and the `nix-path` setting. Thus, [`builtins.nixPath`](@docroot@/language/builtin-constants.md#builtins-nixPath) is an empty list.
 - The builtins [`builtins.currentSystem`](@docroot@/language/builtin-constants.md#builtins-currentSystem) and [`builtins.currentTime`](@docroot@/language/builtin-constants.md#builtins-currentTime) are absent from `builtins`.
 - [`builtins.getEnv`](@docroot@/language/builtin-constants.md#builtins-currentSystem) always returns empty string for any variable.
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/builtins/flakeRefToString.md b/lix/libflakes/builtins/flakeRefToString.md
similarity index 100%
rename from lix/libexpr/builtins/flakeRefToString.md
rename to lix/libflakes/builtins/flakeRefToString.md
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/builtins/getFlake.md b/lix/libflakes/builtins/getFlake.md
similarity index 100%
rename from lix/libexpr/builtins/getFlake.md
rename to lix/libflakes/builtins/getFlake.md
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/builtins/parseFlakeRef.md b/lix/libflakes/builtins/parseFlakeRef.md
similarity index 100%
rename from lix/libexpr/builtins/parseFlakeRef.md
rename to lix/libflakes/builtins/parseFlakeRef.md
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/call-flake.nix b/lix/libflakes/expr/call-flake.nix
similarity index 100%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/call-flake.nix
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/call-flake.nix
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/config.cc b/lix/libflakes/expr/config.cc
similarity index 99%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/config.cc
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/config.cc
index 6e72e8514..11eedecf6 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/config.cc
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/config.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/logging.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/json.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/users.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/flake.cc b/lix/libflakes/expr/flake.cc
similarity index 98%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/flake.cc
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/flake.cc
index 044940abc..68ac4924f 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/flake.cc
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/flake.cc
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-settings.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/extra-primops.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh"
+#include "lix/libexpr/primops.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libfetchers/fetchers.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
@@ -994,6 +995,12 @@ void prim_getFlake(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v)
         v);
 }
 
+static RegisterPrimOp primop_getFlake(PrimOp{{
+    .name = "getFlake",
+    .arity = 1,
+    .fun = prim_getFlake,
+}});
+
 void prim_parseFlakeRef(
     EvalState & state,
     Value * * args,
@@ -1015,6 +1022,12 @@ void prim_parseFlakeRef(
     v.mkAttrs(binds);
 }
 
+static RegisterPrimOp primop_parseFlakeRef(PrimOp{{
+    .name = "parseFlakeRef",
+    .arity = 1,
+    .fun = prim_parseFlakeRef,
+}});
+
 void prim_flakeRefToString(
     EvalState & state,
     Value * * args,
@@ -1053,6 +1066,12 @@ void prim_flakeRefToString(
     v.mkString(flakeRef.to_string());
 }
 
+static RegisterPrimOp primop_flakeRefToString(PrimOp{{
+    .name = "flakeRefToString",
+    .arity = 1,
+    .fun = prim_flakeRefToString,
+}});
+
 }
 
 Fingerprint LockedFlake::getFingerprint() const
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh b/lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh
similarity index 98%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh
index 007b5e037..ccdfe5ebf 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/types.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/value.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.cc b/lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.cc
similarity index 99%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.cc
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.cc
index 1e1a789d5..a813d5366 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.cc
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/async.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/regex.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh b/lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh
similarity index 100%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.cc b/lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.cc
similarity index 99%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.cc
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.cc
index 6998d6656..c6f4fdf09 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.cc
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.cc
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/error.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/json.hh"
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh b/lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh
similarity index 98%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh
index b67e68cd0..ab2d42438 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/lockfile.hh
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/lockfile.hh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 ///@file
 
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/json-fwd.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
diff --git a/lix/libexpr/flake/meson.build b/lix/libflakes/expr/meson.build
similarity index 66%
rename from lix/libexpr/flake/meson.build
rename to lix/libflakes/expr/meson.build
index cce1b0c75..e5652dda3 100644
--- a/lix/libexpr/flake/meson.build
+++ b/lix/libflakes/expr/meson.build
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-libexpr_generated_headers += custom_target(
+libflakes_generated_headers += custom_target(
   command : [ 'bash', '-c', 'echo \'R"__NIX_STR(\' | cat - @INPUT@ && echo \')__NIX_STR"\'' ],
   input : 'call-flake.nix',
   output : '@PLAINNAME@.gen.hh',
   capture : true,
   install : true,
-  install_dir : includedir / 'lix/libexpr/flake',
+  install_dir : includedir / 'lix/libflakes/expr',
 )
diff --git a/lix/libflakes/extra-primops.hh b/lix/libflakes/extra-primops.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..03438ee78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libflakes/extra-primops.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#pragma once
+///@file
+
+namespace nix {
+class EvalState;
+struct Value;
+
+namespace flake {
+void prim_flakeRefToString(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
+void prim_getFlake(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
+void prim_parseFlakeRef(EvalState & state, Value * * args, Value & v);
+}
+}
diff --git a/lix/libflakes/init.cc b/lix/libflakes/init.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8da07424a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libflakes/init.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#include "lix/libflakes/init.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
+#include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
+
+// TODO: register the builtins
+// register the setting for flakes (eval-cache)?
+
+namespace nix::flake {
+void initFlakes(Evaluator * eval)
+{
+    // We inform the evaluator about Flakes during NIX_PATH processing.
+    eval->paths.registerAllowedNixPathPrefix("flake:");
+    eval->paths.registerSearchPathResolver([&](std::string const & value) {
+        return value.starts_with("flake:");
+    }, [&](std::string const & value, ref<Store> store) -> kj::Promise<Result<std::optional<std::string>>> {
+        auto flakeRef = parseFlakeRef(value.substr(6), {}, true, false);
+        debug("fetching flake search path element '%s'", value);
+        auto storePath =
+            TRY_AWAIT(TRY_AWAIT(flakeRef.resolve(store)).fetchTree(store)).first.storePath;
+
+        co_return {store->toRealPath(storePath)};
+    });
+}
+}
diff --git a/lix/libflakes/init.hh b/lix/libflakes/init.hh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2e9ce9f89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libflakes/init.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#pragma once
+///@file
+
+namespace nix {
+class Evaluator;
+
+namespace flake {
+    void initFlakes(Evaluator * eval);
+}
+}
diff --git a/lix/libflakes/lix-flakes.pc.in b/lix/libflakes/lix-flakes.pc.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f1a0e457c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libflakes/lix-flakes.pc.in
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+prefix=@prefix@
+libdir=@libdir@
+includedir=@includedir@
+
+Name: Lix libflakes
+Description: Lix Package Manager (libflakes)
+Version: @PACKAGE_VERSION@
+# dependencies on boost is omitted since it is optional (only required by some headers)
+Requires: lix-base lix-util lix-store lix-fetchers @BOEHM_IF_FOUND@
+Libs: -L${libdir} -llixflakes
diff --git a/lix/libflakes/meson.build b/lix/libflakes/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a41260375
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libflakes/meson.build
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+libflakes_generated_headers = []
+
+subdir('expr')
+
+# libflakes_setting_definitions = files(
+#   # keep-sorted start
+#   # keep-sorted end
+# )
+# libflakes_settings_header = custom_target(
+#   command : [
+#     python.full_path(),
+#     '@SOURCE_ROOT@/lix/code-generation/build_settings.py',
+#     '--kernel', host_machine.system(),
+#     '--header', '@OUTPUT@',
+#     '--experimental-features', '@SOURCE_ROOT@/lix/libutil/experimental-features',
+#     '@INPUT@',
+#   ],
+#   input : libflakes_setting_definitions,
+#   output : 'libflakes-settings.gen.inc',
+#   install : true,
+#   install_dir : includedir / 'lix/libflakes',
+# )
+
+builtin_definitions = files(
+  # keep-sorted start
+  'builtins/flakeRefToString.md',
+  'builtins/getFlake.md',
+  'builtins/parseFlakeRef.md',
+  # keep-sorted end
+)
+builtins_gen = custom_target(
+  command : [
+    python.full_path(),
+    '@SOURCE_ROOT@/lix/code-generation/build_builtins.py',
+    '--header', '@OUTPUT0@',
+    '--docs', '@OUTPUT1@',
+    '--experimental-features', '@SOURCE_ROOT@/lix/libutil/experimental-features',
+    '@INPUT@'
+  ],
+  input : builtin_definitions,
+  output : [
+    'register-builtins.gen.inc',
+    'builtins.md',
+  ],
+)
+register_builtins_header = builtins_gen[0]
+builtins_md = builtins_gen[1]
+
+libflakes_sources = files(
+  # keep-sorted start
+  'expr/config.cc',
+  'expr/flake.cc',
+  'expr/flakeref.cc',
+  'expr/lockfile.cc',
+  'init.cc',
+  # keep-sorted end
+)
+
+libflakes_headers = files(
+  # keep-sorted start
+  'expr/flake.hh',
+  'expr/flakeref.hh',
+  'expr/lockfile.hh',
+  'init.hh'
+  # keep-sorted end
+)
+
+dependencies = [
+  liblixutil,
+  liblixstore,
+  liblixfetchers,
+  liblixexpr,
+  boehm,
+  boost,
+  kj,
+  nlohmann_json,
+  toml11,
+]
+
+libflakes_temp = library(
+  is_static ? 'lixflakes_temp' : 'lixflakes',
+  libflakes_sources,
+  # libflakes_settings_header,
+  libflakes_generated_headers,
+  register_builtins_header,
+  dependencies : dependencies,
+  # for shared.hh
+  include_directories : [
+    '../libmain',
+  ],
+  cpp_pch : cpp_pch,
+  install : not is_static,
+  # FIXME(Qyriad): is this right?
+  install_rpath : libdir,
+)
+# FIXME: remove when https://git.lix.systems/lix-project/lix/issues/359 is fixed.
+# FIXME: replace by prelink when https://github.com/mesonbuild/meson/pull/14846 is widely available.
+if is_static
+  libflakes_prelink = custom_target(
+    'lixflakes-prelink',
+    output : 'lixflakes-prelink.o',
+    input : libflakes_temp,
+    command : [
+      cxx.cmd_array(),
+      '-r',
+      '-o',
+      '@OUTPUT@',
+      is_darwin ? '-Wl,-force_load' : '-Wl,--whole-archive',
+      '@INPUT@',
+    ],
+  )
+  libflakes = library(
+    'lixflakes',
+    [libflakes_prelink],
+    dependencies : dependencies,
+    install : true,
+  )
+else
+  libflakes = libflakes_temp
+endif
+
+install_headers(
+  libflakes_headers,
+  subdir : 'lix/libflakes',
+  preserve_path : true,
+)
+
+liblixflakes = declare_dependency(
+  include_directories : include_directories('../..'),
+  # sources : libflakes_settings_header,
+  dependencies : [
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixexpr,
+    liblixfetchers,
+    boehm,
+    boost,
+    kj,
+  ],
+  link_with : libflakes,
+)
+
+meson.override_dependency('lix-flakes', liblixflakes)
+
+# FIXME: not using the pkg-config module because it creates way too many deps
+# while meson migration is in progress, and we want to not include boost here
+configure_file(
+  input : 'lix-flakes.pc.in',
+  output : 'lix-flakes.pc',
+  install_dir : libdir / 'pkgconfig',
+  configuration : {
+    'prefix' : prefix,
+    'libdir' : libdir,
+    'includedir' : includedir,
+    'PACKAGE_VERSION' : meson.project_version(),
+    'BOEHM_IF_FOUND' : boehm.found() ? 'bdw-gc' : '',
+  },
+)
diff --git a/lix/libflakes/plugin.cc b/lix/libflakes/plugin.cc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..83384b13e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lix/libflakes/plugin.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+extern "C" void nix_plugin_entry()
+{
+    // 1. register an allowed prefix for NIX_PATH parsing
+    // 2. register a search path resolver
+}
diff --git a/lix/meson.build b/lix/meson.build
index 40960c486..c01d6a86d 100644
--- a/lix/meson.build
+++ b/lix/meson.build
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ subdir('libstore')
 subdir('libfetchers')
 # libexpr depends on all of the above
 subdir('libexpr')
+# libflakes depends on all of the above
+subdir('libflakes')
 # libmain depends on libutil and libstore
 subdir('libmain')
 # libcmd depends on everything
diff --git a/lix/nix/flake.cc b/lix/nix/flake.cc
index 757d22258..827a4daa9 100644
--- a/lix/nix/flake.cc
+++ b/lix/nix/flake.cc
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-inline.hh" // IWYU pragma: keep
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval-settings.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/get-drvs.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/derivations.hh"
diff --git a/lix/nix/meson.build b/lix/nix/meson.build
index 35f1f9fb7..6747f8ceb 100644
--- a/lix/nix/meson.build
+++ b/lix/nix/meson.build
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ nix = executable(
     liblixstore,
     liblixfetchers,
     liblixexpr,
+    liblixflakes,
     liblixmain,
     liblixcmd,
     boehm,
diff --git a/lix/nix/profile.cc b/lix/nix/profile.cc
index cbfdb5cb3..1d2afab79 100644
--- a/lix/nix/profile.cc
+++ b/lix/nix/profile.cc
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include "lix/libstore/derivations.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/archive.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/builtins/buildenv.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/regex.hh"
 #include "user-env.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/profiles.hh"
diff --git a/lix/nix/registry.cc b/lix/nix/registry.cc
index acf852c87..743a69cbc 100644
--- a/lix/nix/registry.cc
+++ b/lix/nix/registry.cc
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "lix/libmain/common-args.hh"
 #include "lix/libmain/shared.hh"
 #include "lix/libexpr/eval.hh"
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flake.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flake.hh"
 #include "lix/libstore/store-api.hh"
 #include "lix/libfetchers/fetchers.hh"
 #include "lix/libutil/url-parts.hh"
diff --git a/tests/unit/libexpr/flakeref.cc b/tests/unit/libflakes/flakeref.cc
similarity index 78%
rename from tests/unit/libexpr/flakeref.cc
rename to tests/unit/libflakes/flakeref.cc
index e2ffd3239..c9a584c80 100644
--- a/tests/unit/libexpr/flakeref.cc
+++ b/tests/unit/libflakes/flakeref.cc
@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 #include <gtest/gtest.h>
 
-#include "lix/libexpr/flake/flakeref.hh"
+#include "lix/libflakes/expr/flakeref.hh"
+#include "tests/libexpr.hh"
 
 namespace nix {
 
+class FlakeRefTest : public LibExprTest {};
+
+
 /* ----------- tests for flake/flakeref.hh --------------------------------------------------*/
 
     /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
      * to_string
      * --------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-    TEST(to_string, doesntReencodeUrl) {
+    TEST_F(FlakeRefTest, doesntReencodeUrl) {
         auto s = "http://localhost:8181/test/+3d.tar.gz";
         auto flakeref = parseFlakeRef(s);
         auto parsed = flakeref.to_string();
diff --git a/tests/unit/meson.build b/tests/unit/meson.build
index 04fa7b0a4..c1969bd80 100644
--- a/tests/unit/meson.build
+++ b/tests/unit/meson.build
@@ -207,7 +207,6 @@ libexpr_tests_sources = files(
   'libexpr/attr-path.cc',
   'libexpr/derived-path.cc',
   'libexpr/error_traces.cc',
-  'libexpr/flakeref.cc',
   'libexpr/json.cc',
   'libexpr/primops.cc',
   'libexpr/search-path.cc',
@@ -247,6 +246,42 @@ test(
   verbose : false,
 )
 
+libflakes_tests_sources = files(
+  'libflakes/flakeref.cc',
+)
+
+libflakes_tester = executable(
+  'liblixflakes-tests',
+  libflakes_tests_sources,
+  dependencies : [
+    libasanoptions,
+    liblixexpr_test_support,
+    liblixstore_test_support,
+    liblixstore,
+    liblixutil,
+    liblixexpr,
+    liblixfetchers,
+    liblixflakes,
+    rapidcheck,
+    gtest,
+    nlohmann_json,
+    kj
+  ],
+  cpp_pch : cpp_pch
+)
+
+test(
+  'libflakes-unit-tests',
+  libflakes_tester,
+  args : tests_args,
+  env : default_test_env + {
+    '_NIX_TEST_UNIT_DATA': meson.project_source_root() / 'tests/unit/libflakes/data',
+  },
+  suite : 'check',
+  protocol : 'gtest',
+  verbose : false,
+)
+
 libcmd_tester = executable(
   'liblixcmd-tests',
   files('libcmd/args.cc'),