diff --git a/makefu/source.nix b/makefu/source.nix
index f06c9454f..708f0d20c 100644
--- a/makefu/source.nix
+++ b/makefu/source.nix
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ let
               then "buildbot"
               else "makefu";
   _file = <stockholm> + "/makefu/1systems/${name}/source.nix";
-  ref = "cd36b3d"; # nixos-17.09 @ 2018-02-06
+  # TODO: automate updating of this ref + cherry-picks
+  ref = "51810e0"; # nixos-17.09 @ 2018-02-14
                    # + do_sqlite3 ruby: 55a952be5b5
                    # + signal: 0f19beef3