diff --git a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
index 02b2f9f0273d..e9c1c3ed60c3 100644
--- a/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
+++ b/.devcontainer/devcontainer.json
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
     "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/nix:1": {
       // fails in the devcontainer sandbox, enable sandbox via config instead
       "multiUser": false,
-      "packages": "nixd,nixfmt-unstable",
+      "packages": "nixpkgs.nixd,nixpkgs.nixfmt-rfc-style",
+      "useAttributePath": true,
       "extraNixConfig": "experimental-features = nix-command flakes,sandbox = true"
     }
   },
@@ -15,7 +16,9 @@
         "jnoortheen.nix-ide"
       ],
       "settings": {
-        "nix.formatterPath": "nixfmt-rfc-style",
+        "[nix]": {
+            "editor.formatOnSave": true
+        },
         "nix.enableLanguageServer": true,
         "nix.serverPath": "nixd"
       }