diff --git a/live/8/rocky-live-base-spin.ks b/live/8/rocky-live-base-spin.ks
index 3c391e4..95fbd8f 100644
--- a/live/8/rocky-live-base-spin.ks
+++ b/live/8/rocky-live-base-spin.ks
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ glibc-all-langpacks
 # no longer in @core since 2018-10, but needed for livesys script
 initscripts
 chkconfig
+
+# absolutely required - don't want a system that can't actually update
+epel-release
 %end
 
 %post
diff --git a/live/8/rocky-live-kde-base.ks b/live/8/rocky-live-kde-base.ks
index 80f885d..9f34a79 100644
--- a/live/8/rocky-live-kde-base.ks
+++ b/live/8/rocky-live-kde-base.ks
@@ -98,4 +98,6 @@ restorecon -R /
 
 EOF
 
+systemctl enable sddm.service
+
 %end
diff --git a/live/8/rocky-live-xfce-common.ks b/live/8/rocky-live-xfce-common.ks
index 65a5412..7450904 100644
--- a/live/8/rocky-live-xfce-common.ks
+++ b/live/8/rocky-live-xfce-common.ks
@@ -23,6 +23,19 @@ pcp-selinux
 -gnome-shell
 -gnome-menus
 
+# Some stuff might already be here, doesn't hurt to list it.
+firefox
+thunderbird
+firewall-config
+pidgin
+rocky-backgrounds
+gparted
+rhythmbox
+
+# extras
+f32-backgrounds-xfce
+f32-backgrounds-extras-xfce
+
 xfce4-about
 xfce4-appfinder
 xfce4-taskmanager
diff --git a/live/8/rocky-live-xfce.ks b/live/8/rocky-live-xfce.ks
index f738137..c42bd4f 100644
--- a/live/8/rocky-live-xfce.ks
+++ b/live/8/rocky-live-xfce.ks
@@ -86,4 +86,7 @@ restorecon -R /home/liveuser
 
 EOF
 
+# this doesn't come up automatically. not sure why.
+systemctl enable sddm.service
+
 %end