diff --git a/.github/workflows/emulator.yml b/.github/workflows/emulator.yml
index b4a5d948..26e61bad 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/emulator.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/emulator.yml
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build zipball, channel tarball and flake to inject
         run: |
           rm -rf n-o-d
-          mkdir -p n-o-d/unpacked
-          git -C . archive --format=tar --prefix n-o-d/ HEAD > n-o-d/archive.tar
-          tar --strip-components=1 -xf n-o-d/archive.tar -C n-o-d/unpacked
-          gzip n-o-d/archive.tar
+          mkdir -p n-o-d
+          git -C . archive --format=tar.gz --prefix n-o-d/ HEAD > n-o-d/archive.tar.gz
           nix run '.#deploy' -- file:///data/local/tmp/n-o-d/archive.tar.gz n-o-d/
 
       - name: Configure AVD cache
@@ -77,6 +75,7 @@ jobs:
           script: >
             adb shell 'rm -rf /data/local/tmp/n-o-d' &&
             adb push n-o-d /data/local/tmp/ &&
+            adb shell 'cd /data/local/tmp/n-o-d && tar xzf archive.tar.gz && mv n-o-d unpacked' &&
             cd tests/emulator &&
             adb shell settings put secure enabled_accessibility_services com.google.android.marvin.talkback/com.google.android.marvin.talkback.TalkBackService &&
             nix run 'github:t184256/droidctl' -- run ${{ matrix.way }}.py
diff --git a/nix-on-droid/nix-on-droid.sh b/nix-on-droid/nix-on-droid.sh
index 64ea9cc1..6b8bd2c5 100644
--- a/nix-on-droid/nix-on-droid.sh
+++ b/nix-on-droid/nix-on-droid.sh
@@ -87,15 +87,7 @@ function doHelp() {
 }
 
 function doOnDeviceTest() {
-    # This is for maintainer convenience only, see tests/on-device/.run.sh
-
-    # /data/local/tmp/n-o-d/unpacked is available in fakedroid environment
-    if [[ -d "/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/unpacked" ]]; then
-        export NIX_PATH="nix-on-droid=/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/unpacked:$NIX_PATH"
-    else
-        nix-channel --update nix-on-droid
-    fi
-
+    nix-channel --update nix-on-droid
     exec "$(nix-instantiate --eval --expr \
                             "<nix-on-droid/tests/on-device/.run.sh>")" "$@"
 }
diff --git a/scripts/deploy.sh b/scripts/deploy.sh
index fedb51fb..2b4330aa 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy.sh
@@ -45,11 +45,14 @@ else
         { echo "unsupported url $PUBLIC_URL" >&2; exit 1; }
     export NIX_ON_DROID_CHANNEL_URL="$PUBLIC_URL"
 fi
-if [[ "$PUBLIC_URL" =~ ^file:///(.*) ]]; then
-    export NIX_ON_DROID_FLAKE_URL="/${BASH_REMATCH[1]}"
+# special case for local / CI testing
+if [[ "$PUBLIC_URL" =~ ^file:///(.*)/archive.tar.gz ]]; then
+    export NIX_ON_DROID_FLAKE_URL="/${BASH_REMATCH[1]}/unpacked"
 else
     export NIX_ON_DROID_FLAKE_URL="$PUBLIC_URL"
 fi
+log "NIX_ON_DROID_CHANNEL_URL=$NIX_ON_DROID_CHANNEL_URL"
+log "NIX_ON_DROID_FLAKE_URL=$NIX_ON_DROID_FLAKE_URL"
 
 
 PROOT_HASH_FILE="modules/environment/login/default.nix"
diff --git a/tests/fakedroid.sh b/tests/fakedroid.sh
index b79c6b76..2f99f526 100644
--- a/tests/fakedroid.sh
+++ b/tests/fakedroid.sh
@@ -100,12 +100,11 @@ fi
 
 rm -rf "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d"
 mkdir -p "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/unpacked"
-git -C "$REPO_DIR" archive --format=tar --prefix n-o-d/ HEAD \
-    > "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/archive.tar"
-tar --strip-components=1 -xf \
-    "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/archive.tar" \
+git -C "$REPO_DIR" archive --format=tar.gz --prefix n-o-d/ HEAD \
+    > "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/archive.tar.gz"
+tar --strip-components=1 -xzf \
+    "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/archive.tar.gz" \
     -C "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/unpacked"
-gzip "$ENV_DIR/data/local/tmp/n-o-d/archive.tar"
 
 
 # The 'first boot' proot invocation: