diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/fractal.nix b/hosts/common/programs/fractal.nix
index 72778c01..97dcc721 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/fractal.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/fractal.nix
@@ -1,10 +1,23 @@
-{ pkgs, ... }:
+{ config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
+let
+  cfg = config.sane.programs.fractal;
+in
 {
   sane.programs.fractal = {
     package = pkgs.fractal-nixified;
     # package = pkgs.fractal-latest;
     # package = pkgs.fractal-next;
 
+    configOption = with lib; mkOption {
+      default = {};
+      type = types.submodule {
+        options.autostart = mkOption {
+          type = types.bool;
+          default = true;
+        };
+      };
+    };
+
     persist.private = [
       # XXX by default fractal stores its state in ~/.local/share/<build-profile>/<UUID>.
       ".local/share/hack"    # for debug-like builds
@@ -12,5 +25,17 @@
     ];
 
     suggestedPrograms = [ "gnome-keyring" ];
+
+    services.fractal = {
+      description = "auto-start and maintain fractal Matrix connection";
+      wantedBy = lib.mkIf cfg.config.autostart [ "default.target" ];
+      serviceConfig = {
+        ExecStart = "${cfg.package}/bin/fractal";
+        Type = "simple";
+        Restart = "always";
+        RestartSec = "20s";
+      };
+      # environment.G_MESSAGES_DEBUG = "all";
+    };
   };
 }
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix b/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix
index a76faa66..3aa9754c 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/swaynotificationcenter.nix
@@ -322,10 +322,17 @@ in
           ] ++ lib.optionals config.sane.programs.dino.config.autostart [
             {
               type = "toggle";
-              label = "jingle";  # XMPP calls
+              label = "XMPP";  # XMPP calls (jingle)
               command = "${systemctl-toggle}/bin/systemctl-toggle --user dino";
               active = "${pkgs.systemd}/bin/systemctl is-active --user dino";
             }
+          ] ++ lib.optionals config.sane.programs.fractal.config.autostart [
+            {
+              type = "toggle";
+              label = "Matrix";  # Matrix messages
+              command = "${systemctl-toggle}/bin/systemctl-toggle --user fractal";
+              active = "${pkgs.systemd}/bin/systemctl is-active --user fractal";
+            }
           ];
         };
         dnd = {
diff --git a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config
index f2c08fc0..eae00bef 100644
--- a/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config
+++ b/hosts/modules/gui/sway/sway-config
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ for_window [title="megapixels"] inhibit_idle open
 # Dino (XMPP) is ordinarily started for the purpose of daemonizing (but still visible). keep it on a predictable, out-of-the-way workspace
 # TODO: could be neat to somehow do this in a way that it never steals focus from anything...
 for_window [app_id="im.dino.Dino"] move container to workspace number 1
+for_window [app_id="org.gnome.Fractal"] move container to workspace number 1
 
 ### displays
 ## DESKTOP