diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/yabar.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/yabar.nix
index a01083c3ace9..db085211366e 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/yabar.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/yabar.nix
@@ -44,10 +44,23 @@ in
       enable = mkEnableOption "yabar";
 
       package = mkOption {
-        default = pkgs.yabar;
-        example = literalExample "pkgs.yabar-unstable";
+        default = pkgs.yabar-unstable;
+        example = literalExample "pkgs.yabar";
         type = types.package;
 
+        # `yabar-stable` segfaults under certain conditions.
+        apply = x: if x == pkgs.yabar-unstable then x else flip warn x ''
+          It's not recommended to use `yabar' with `programs.yabar', the (old) stable release
+          tends to segfault under certain circumstances:
+
+          * https://github.com/geommer/yabar/issues/86
+          * https://github.com/geommer/yabar/issues/68
+          * https://github.com/geommer/yabar/issues/143
+
+          Most of them don't occur on master anymore, until a new release is published, it's recommended
+          to use `yabar-unstable'.
+        '';
+
         description = ''
           The package which contains the `yabar` binary.
 
diff --git a/nixos/tests/yabar.nix b/nixos/tests/yabar.nix
index 06fe5bc2b278..bbc0cf4c7dd7 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/yabar.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/yabar.nix
@@ -8,18 +8,26 @@ with lib;
     maintainers = [ ma27 ];
   };
 
-  nodes.yabar = {
+  machine = {
     imports = [ ./common/x11.nix ./common/user-account.nix ];
 
     services.xserver.displayManager.auto.user = "bob";
 
     programs.yabar.enable = true;
+    programs.yabar.bars = {
+      top.indicators.date.exec = "YABAR_DATE";
+    };
   };
 
   testScript = ''
-    $yabar->start;
-    $yabar->waitForX;
+    $machine->start;
+    $machine->waitForX;
 
-    $yabar->waitForUnit("yabar.service", "bob");
+    # confirm proper startup
+    $machine->waitForUnit("yabar.service", "bob");
+    $machine->sleep(10);
+    $machine->waitForUnit("yabar.service", "bob");
+
+    $machine->screenshot("top_bar");
   '';
 })