diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/gdm.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/gdm.nix
index 325023f4121a..e0ac47bb766d 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/gdm.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/gdm.nix
@@ -166,9 +166,10 @@ in
       };
 
     systemd.tmpfiles.rules = [
-      "d /run/gdm/.config 0711 gdm gdm -"
+      "d /run/gdm/.config 0711 gdm gdm"
     ] ++ optionals config.hardware.pulseaudio.enable [
-      "L+ /run/gdm/.config/pulse - - - - ${pulseConfig}"
+      "d /run/gdm/.config/pulse 0711 gdm gdm"
+      "L+ /run/gdm/.config/pulse/${pulseConfig.name} - - - - ${pulseConfig}"
     ] ++ optionals config.services.gnome3.gnome-initial-setup.enable [
       # Create stamp file for gnome-initial-setup to prevent it starting in GDM.
       "f /run/gdm/.config/gnome-initial-setup-done 0711 gdm gdm - yes"