diff --git a/hosts/uconsole-cm5/configuration.nix b/hosts/uconsole-cm5/configuration.nix
index 6e3de95..0e8f696 100644
--- a/hosts/uconsole-cm5/configuration.nix
+++ b/hosts/uconsole-cm5/configuration.nix
@@ -75,9 +75,26 @@
   # ============================================================
   # Package groups
   # ============================================================
+  # ============================================================
+  # CROSS-COMPILE REMOVALS — packages removed for aarch64 bootstrap
+  # ============================================================
+  # These packages fail to cross-compile for aarch64.
+  # Install them natively AFTER the first successful switch.
+  #
+  # Removed:                              Reason:
+  #   hashcat   — Makefile calls gcc directly (cross-compiler not used)
+  #   clamav    — cmake try_run + Rust proc-macro linker for aarch64
+  #   sdrpp     — glfw/wxPython cross-compile fails
+  #   gqrx      — Qt5 cross-compile cascade fails
+  #   emacs-pgtk → emacs-nox — GTK3 + mailutils → gss → shishi chain
+  #   viking    — GTK3 GPS map editor
+  #   foxtrotgps — GTK2 GPS app
+  #   js8call   — QtQuick3D dep
+  # ============================================================
   environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
     # ===== Base =====
-    emacs-pgtk
+    # emacs-pgtk — removed for bootstrap (GTK3 cross-compile fails)
+    # emacs-nox — removed for bootstrap (depends on mailutils -> gss -> shishi, cross-compile fails)
     git
     ripgrep
     fd
@@ -94,8 +111,8 @@
     trustedqsl                 # Logbook of the World (LoTW)
 
     # ===== SDR / RF =====
-    sdrpp                      # SDR++ spectrum analyzer
-    gqrx                       # SDR receiver GUI
+    # sdrpp — removed for aarch64 cross-compile bootstrap (glfw/wxPython fails)
+    # gqrx — removed for aarch64 cross-compile bootstrap (Qt5 cascade fails)
     rtl-sdr                    # RTL-SDR drivers & utilities
     inspectrum                # Offline signal analysis
     soapysdr-with-plugins      # SoapySDR + hardware support plugins
@@ -115,8 +132,8 @@
     sqlmap                     # SQL injection tool
 
     # ===== GPS / Maps =====
-    foxtrotgps
-    viking                     # GPS map editor
+    # foxtrotgps — removed for aarch64 cross-compile bootstrap (GTK2 fails)
+    # viking — removed for aarch64 cross-compile bootstrap (GTK3 fails)
     gpsbabel                   # GPS data conversion
   ];