diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/hardware/auto-cpufreq.nix b/nixos/modules/services/hardware/auto-cpufreq.nix
index df7c01ae54ef..fd2e03ef12f5 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/hardware/auto-cpufreq.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/hardware/auto-cpufreq.nix
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ in {
 
         serviceConfig.ExecStart = [
           ""
-          "${lib.getExe pkgs.auto-cpufreq} --config ${cfgFile}"
+          "${lib.getExe pkgs.auto-cpufreq} --daemon --config ${cfgFile}"
         ];
       };
     };