diff --git a/mkosi.conf b/mkosi.conf
index 16a4a8a..f16631e 100644
--- a/mkosi.conf
+++ b/mkosi.conf
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ WithNetwork=true
 # RootPassword=
 # Make sure kernel-install knows where we expect the ESP to be mounted so it can create correct loader entries.
 @Environment=BOOT_MNT=/efi-template
-@Environment=KDE_BUILDER_TARGET="workspace dolphin konsole kpmcore kate spectacle"
+# TODO: revisit phonon-vlc it currently is needed by startplasma to play sounds; should get ported to canberra though
+@Environment=KDE_BUILDER_TARGET="workspace dolphin konsole kpmcore kate spectacle phonon-vlc"
 @Environment=CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA=unknownSHA
 @Environment=CI_COMMIT_SHA=unknownSHA
 @Environment=CI_PIPELINE_URL=https://invent.kde.org
diff --git a/mkosi.postinst.chroot b/mkosi.postinst.chroot
index fd9a08b..306b4ba 100755
--- a/mkosi.postinst.chroot
+++ b/mkosi.postinst.chroot
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ rm -rfv /efi/
 
 pacman --sync --refresh
 pacman --sync --noconfirm git base-devel cmake yaml-cpp boost-libs boost dosfstools btrfs-progs
+# Slightly awkward: plasma-workspace still uses phonon for notifications (should use canberra) which means we need
+# the vlc backend which means we need vlc. Ugh. The reason canberra is nice is because it only does short sound playback
+# so it gets by with only having pulseaudio, not just an entire multimedia framework.
+pacman --sync --noconfirm vlc
 
 # YAY Builder
 # https://preciselab.io/how-to-install-yay-on-pure-archlinux-image/