diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1903.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1903.xml
index 69e94fbccc5c..7bc887693376 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1903.xml
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1903.xml
@@ -318,6 +318,22 @@
      case.
    </para>
   </listitem>
+  <listitem>
+   <para>
+     The <literal>pam_unix</literal> account module is now loaded with its
+     control field set to <literal>required</literal> instead of
+     <literal>sufficient</literal>, so that later pam account modules that
+     might do more extensive checks are being executed.
+     Previously, the whole account module verification was exited prematurely
+     in case a nss module provided the account name to
+     <literal>pam_unix</literal>.
+     The LDAP and SSSD NixOS modules already add their NSS modules when
+     enabled. In case your setup breaks due to some later pam account module
+     previosuly shadowed, or failing NSS lookups, please file a bug. You can
+     get back the old behaviour by manually setting
+     <literal><![CDATA[security.pam.services.<name?>.text]]></literal>.
+   </para>
+  </listitem>
   </itemizedlist>
  </section>
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/security/pam.nix b/nixos/modules/security/pam.nix
index 926c6d77d3bb..812a71c68a30 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/security/pam.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/security/pam.nix
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ let
       text = mkDefault
         (''
           # Account management.
-          account ${if cfg.sssdStrictAccess then "required" else "sufficient"} pam_unix.so
+          account required pam_unix.so
           ${optionalString use_ldap
               "account sufficient ${pam_ldap}/lib/security/pam_ldap.so"}
           ${optionalString (config.services.sssd.enable && cfg.sssdStrictAccess==false)