diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 9612738..a1e1f81 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@
               toggleterm-nvim
               undotree
               harpoon2
+              mini-files
               oil-nvim
 
               # QoL - augments existing features to be a little nicer or adds some minor enhancements
diff --git a/lua/plugins/lz-spec.lua b/lua/plugins/lz-spec.lua
index 4ea7ea4..31856af 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/lz-spec.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/lz-spec.lua
@@ -285,4 +285,19 @@ return {
       vim.keymap.set("n", "];", dropbar_api.select_next_context, { desc = "Select next context" })
     end,
   },
+  {
+    "mini.files",
+    after = function()
+      require("mini.files").setup({
+        windows = { preview = true, width_preview = 40 },
+      })
+
+      vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>e", function()
+        MiniFiles.open(vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(0))
+      end)
+      vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>fe", function()
+        MiniFiles.open(nil, false)
+      end)
+    end,
+  },
 }
diff --git a/lua/plugins/oil.lua b/lua/plugins/oil.lua
index d85d03f..b996cf4 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/oil.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/oil.lua
@@ -1,11 +1,30 @@
+-- we still use oil.nvim for more complex filesystem manipulations
 return {
   "oil.nvim",
+  cmd = "Oil",
+  keys = {
+    {
+      "<leader>bf",
+      function()
+        vim.cmd("Oil " .. vim.fn.getcwd())
+      end,
+      mode = "n",
+      desc = "Open oil in current working directory",
+    },
+    {
+      "<leader>be",
+      vim.cmd.Oil,
+      mode = "n",
+      desc = "Open oil in current file directory",
+    },
+  },
   after = function()
     require("oil").setup({
       columns = {
         "size",
         "icon",
       },
+      default_file_explorer = false,
       use_default_keymaps = false,
       keymaps = {
         ["J"] = "actions.parent",
@@ -27,13 +46,5 @@ return {
         ["~"] = "actions.tcd",
       },
     })
-
-    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>e", function()
-      vim.cmd("Oil")
-    end, { desc = "Open file explorer in current file directory" })
-
-    vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>fe", function()
-      vim.cmd("Oil " .. vim.fn.getcwd())
-    end, { desc = "Open file explorer in current working directory" })
   end,
 }