diff --git a/modules/environments/home-assistant/default.nix b/modules/environments/home-assistant/default.nix
index 3a849cf..a9012af 100644
--- a/modules/environments/home-assistant/default.nix
+++ b/modules/environments/home-assistant/default.nix
@@ -41,8 +41,19 @@ in
         unit_system = "metric";
       };
       mobile_app = {};
+      automation = "!include automations.yaml";
+      script = "!include scripts.yaml";
+      scene = "!include scenes.yaml";
     };
 
+    # `!include` targets must exist or HA fails at startup. Create them empty
+    # so HA's UI editor can write to them; `f` only acts if the file is absent.
+    systemd.tmpfiles.rules = [
+      "f /var/lib/hass/automations.yaml 0644 hass hass - []"
+      "f /var/lib/hass/scripts.yaml 0644 hass hass - {}"
+      "f /var/lib/hass/scenes.yaml 0644 hass hass - []"
+    ];
+
     services.openthread-border-router = {
       enable = true;
       package = pkgs.unstable.openthread-border-router;