diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d98e9c3..528abe9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,5 @@ For pinned bootstrap usage, generate a `channels.scm` that combines upstream
 Guix with this repository's current commit.
 
 The deployment scripts default to the checked-in base-channel lock at
-`../pins/base-channels.scm`, and only fall back to the current host's
-`guix describe -f channels` output when that file is absent.  Refresh that
-lock intentionally with `scripts/update-base-channels-pin`.
+`pins/base-channels.scm`.  Refresh that lock intentionally with
+`../guix-deploy/scripts/update-base-channels-pin`.
diff --git a/pins/base-channels.scm b/pins/base-channels.scm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..766a306
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pins/base-channels.scm
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+(list (channel
+        (name 'guix)
+        (url "https://git.teralink.net/tribes/guix.git")
+        (branch "master")
+        ;; Guix v1.5.0
+        (commit
+          "230aa373f315f247852ee07dff34146e9b480aec")
+        (introduction
+          (make-channel-introduction
+            "9edb3f66fd807b096b48283debdcddccfea34bad"
+            (openpgp-fingerprint
+              "BBB0 2DDF 2CEA F6A8 0D1D  E643 A2A0 6DF2 A33A 54FA")))))