diff --git a/modules/options/profiles.nix b/modules/options/profiles.nix
index 02772d0..6572858 100644
--- a/modules/options/profiles.nix
+++ b/modules/options/profiles.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,24 @@
-{lib, ...}: {
+{
+  lib,
+  config,
+  ...
+}: let
+  cfg = config.marleycfg.profiles;
+in {
   options.marleycfg.profiles = {
     desktop = lib.mkEnableOption "graphical desktop profile";
     server = lib.mkEnableOption "server profile";
   };
+
+  config = lib.mkIf cfg.server {
+    assertions = [
+      {
+        assertion = cfg.server -> !cfg.desktop;
+        message = ''
+          The marleycfg.profiles.server and marleycfg.profiles.desktop options
+          are mutually exclusive.
+        '';
+      }
+    ];
+  };
 }