diff --git a/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run b/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run
index 4f97fb3726..d3d9b37cc0 100644
--- a/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run
+++ b/repos/gems/run/sculpt.run
@@ -461,6 +461,7 @@ install_config {
 	<start name="nitpicker" caps="1000" priority="-1">
 		<resource name="RAM" quantum="12M"/>
 		<resource name="CPU" quantum="10"/>
+		<affinity xpos="1" width="1"/> <!-- decouple nitpicker from boot CPU -->
 		<provides>
 			<service name="Gui"/> <service name="Capture"/> <service name="Event"/>
 		</provides>