diff --git a/modules/mc.nix b/modules/mc.nix
index bbe6989..3d01edd 100644
--- a/modules/mc.nix
+++ b/modules/mc.nix
@@ -10,23 +10,43 @@
 # mutable runtime state (history, cursor positions) in $XDG_DATA_HOME/mc — no
 # env vars needed. `ini` sets auto_save_setup=false so mc never rewrites these
 # read-only store symlinks on exit.
+#
+# The F2 menu is a `types.lines` option, not a baked source file, so consumers
+# can extend or replace it. The shipped menu is a `mkBefore` definition (stays
+# first, ahead of appended entries), NOT a `default` — a `default` is dropped
+# the moment a consumer adds a definition, which would lose the base. As a real
+# definition it merges: `local.mc.menu = "…";` appends after the base entries;
+# `lib.mkForce "…"` replaces it wholesale.
 
 { config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
 
 {
-  options.local.mc.otherDir = lib.mkOption {
-    type = lib.types.str;
-    default = config.home.homeDirectory;
-    defaultText = lib.literalExpression "config.home.homeDirectory";
-    description = "Startup directory for mc's other (right) panel.";
+  options.local.mc = {
+    otherDir = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.str;
+      default = config.home.homeDirectory;
+      defaultText = lib.literalExpression "config.home.homeDirectory";
+      description = "Startup directory for mc's other (right) panel.";
+    };
+
+    menu = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.lines;
+      description = ''
+        Contents of mc's F2 user menu. The shipped baseline is a mkBefore
+        definition, so a plain assignment appends entries after it; use
+        lib.mkForce to replace it entirely.
+      '';
+    };
   };
 
   config = {
     home.packages = [ pkgs.mc pkgs.ouch ];
 
+    local.mc.menu = lib.mkBefore (builtins.readFile ./assets/mc/menu);
+
     xdg.configFile = {
       "mc/ini".source = ./assets/mc/ini;
-      "mc/menu".source = ./assets/mc/menu;
+      "mc/menu".text = config.local.mc.menu;
 
       # Generated (not a static asset) so other_dir tracks the option instead of
       # baking in a personal path.