diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/xi/xinit/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/xi/xinit/package.nix
index cd1b7eb26009..af3c4a7ccdb3 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/xi/xinit/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/xi/xinit/package.nix
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     "--with-xserver=${xorg-server.out}/bin/X"
   ]
   ++ lib.optionals stdenv.hostPlatform.isDarwin [
+    "--with-launchd=yes"
     "--with-bundle-id-prefix=org.nixos.xquartz"
     "--with-launchdaemons-dir=${placeholder "out"}/LaunchDaemons"
     "--with-launchagents-dir=${placeholder "out"}/LaunchAgents"