diff --git a/docs/src/content/docs/guides/hooks.mdx b/docs/src/content/docs/guides/hooks.mdx
index 4a8159a..17ab8a3 100644
--- a/docs/src/content/docs/guides/hooks.mdx
+++ b/docs/src/content/docs/guides/hooks.mdx
@@ -10,18 +10,26 @@ flake-file provides two hook lists:
 - **`flake-file.write-hooks`** — commands executed after `write-flake` writes `flake.nix`.
 - **`flake-file.check-hooks`** — commands executed during `nix flake check`.
 
-Each hook is an attrset with an `index` (for ordering) and a command.
+Each hook is an attrset with an `index` (for ordering) and a `program`: a function from `pkgs` to a derivation with `meta.mainProgram`, such as one built by `pkgs.writeShellApplication`.
 
 ## write-hooks
 
 Use write-hooks to trigger follow-up actions whenever `flake.nix` is regenerated — for example, updating a lock file or reformatting.
 
+Write hooks run from the flake root with no arguments.
+
 ```nix
-{ pkgs, ... }: {
+{
   flake-file.write-hooks = [
     {
       index = 10;
-      exec = "${pkgs.nix}/bin/nix flake update";
+      program =
+        pkgs:
+        pkgs.writeShellApplication {
+          name = "update-lock";
+          runtimeInputs = [ pkgs.nix ];
+          text = "nix flake update";
+        };
     }
   ];
 }
@@ -33,12 +41,26 @@ Hooks run in ascending `index` order, so you can coordinate between modules with
 
 Use check-hooks to add extra validation during `nix flake check` — for example, checking that a derived file is up to date.
 
+Check hooks receive a copy of the flake root containing only the files listed in `flake-file.check-files` (default: `flake.nix` and `flake.lock`), so that commits touching other files keep the check cacheable. Add any file your hook reads:
+
+```nix
+{ flake-file.check-files = [ "flake.nix" "flake.lock" "generated/inputs.nix" ]; }
+```
+
+Check hooks run inside the check derivation and receive the path of the flake root as their first argument.
+
 ```nix
-{ pkgs, ... }: {
+{
   flake-file.check-hooks = [
     {
       index = 10;
-      exec = "${pkgs.my-linter}/bin/my-linter --check .";
+      program =
+        pkgs:
+        pkgs.writeShellApplication {
+          name = "lint";
+          runtimeInputs = [ pkgs.my-linter ];
+          text = ''my-linter --check "$1"'';
+        };
     }
   ];
 }
diff --git a/docs/src/content/docs/reference/options.mdx b/docs/src/content/docs/reference/options.mdx
index 1ecb483..583153b 100644
--- a/docs/src/content/docs/reference/options.mdx
+++ b/docs/src/content/docs/reference/options.mdx
@@ -77,13 +77,14 @@ flake-file = {
 |---|---|---|
 | `flake-file.write-hooks` | `listOf hookType` | Ordered hooks run after `write-flake` writes the file |
 | `flake-file.check-hooks` | `listOf hookType` | Ordered hooks run during flake check |
+| `flake-file.check-files` | `listOf str` | Files (relative to the flake root) visible to the check and its hooks. Default: `flake.nix`, `flake.lock` |
 
 Each hook has:
 
 | Field | Description |
 |---|---|
 | `index` | Integer — lower index runs first |
-| `exec` | Shell command string to execute |
+| `program` | Function from `pkgs` to a derivation with `meta.mainProgram`. Write hooks run it from the flake root; check hooks pass the flake root path as the first argument |
 
 ## Lock Flattening Options
 
diff --git a/modules/options/check-hooks.nix b/modules/options/check-hooks.nix
index d3e9ee1..7a5e317 100644
--- a/modules/options/check-hooks.nix
+++ b/modules/options/check-hooks.nix
@@ -37,4 +37,19 @@ in
     type = lib.types.listOf hook;
   };
 
+  options.flake-file.check-files = lib.mkOption {
+    description = ''
+      Files, relative to the flake root, copied into the root seen by
+      check-flake-file and its check-hooks.
+
+      Only these files affect the check's derivation hash, so commits
+      touching anything else reuse a cached check result.
+    '';
+    type = lib.types.listOf lib.types.str;
+    default = [
+      "flake.nix"
+      "flake.lock"
+    ];
+  };
+
 }
diff --git a/modules/write-flake.nix b/modules/write-flake.nix
index c3e0e31..f58dec8 100644
--- a/modules/write-flake.nix
+++ b/modules/write-flake.nix
@@ -169,26 +169,40 @@ let
   check-flake-file =
     pkgs:
     let
+      # Copying all of self would change this check's hash on every commit.
+      prefix = "${toString top.inputs.self}/";
+      files = config.flake-file.check-files;
+      root = builtins.path {
+        name = "flake-root";
+        path = top.inputs.self;
+        filter =
+          path: type:
+          let
+            rel = lib.removePrefix prefix path;
+          in
+          lib.elem rel files || (type == "directory" && lib.any (lib.hasPrefix "${rel}/") files);
+      };
       hooks = lib.pipe config.flake-file.check-hooks [
         (lib.sortOn (i: i.index))
         (map (i: pkgs.lib.getExe (i.program pkgs)))
-        (map (p: "${p} ${top.inputs.self}"))
+        (map (p: "${p} ${root}"))
         (lib.concatStringsSep "\n")
       ];
     in
-    pkgs.runCommandLocal "check-flake-file"
+    pkgs.runCommand "check-flake-file"
       {
         nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.diffutils ];
+        preferLocalBuild = true;
       }
       ''
         set -e
-        diff -u ${top.inputs.self}/flake.nix ${formatted pkgs}
+        diff -u ${root}/flake.nix ${formatted pkgs}
         ${lib.optionalString auto-follow.enable ''
-          cp ${top.inputs.self}/flake.nix flake.nix
-          cp ${top.inputs.self}/flake.lock flake.lock
+          cp ${root}/flake.nix flake.nix
+          cp ${root}/flake.lock flake.lock
           chmod u+w flake.nix flake.lock
           ${autoFollowCommand pkgs}
-          diff -u ${top.inputs.self}/flake.nix flake.nix
+          diff -u ${root}/flake.nix flake.nix
         ''}
         ${hooks}
         touch $out