diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/gnome/core/gdm/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/gnome/core/gdm/default.nix
index cf435b1e9ea3..4eba9e959eeb 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/gnome/core/gdm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/gnome/core/gdm/default.nix
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     rsync --archive "${DESTDIR}/etc" "$out"
     rm --recursive "${DESTDIR}/etc"
     for o in $outputs; do
+        if [[ "$o" = "debug" ]]; then continue; fi
         rsync --archive "${DESTDIR}/''${!o}" "$(dirname "''${!o}")"
         rm --recursive "${DESTDIR}/''${!o}"
     done
@@ -162,6 +163,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   # location using DESTDIR and then move it to proper one in postInstall.
   DESTDIR = "${placeholder "out"}/dest";
 
+  separateDebugInfo = true;
+
   passthru = {
     updateScript = gnome.updateScript {
       packageName = "gdm";