diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/desktops/gnome/gnome-remote-desktop.nix b/nixos/modules/services/desktops/gnome/gnome-remote-desktop.nix
index 85b565e8c9e3..67af93dd007f 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/desktops/gnome/gnome-remote-desktop.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/desktops/gnome/gnome-remote-desktop.nix
@@ -26,8 +26,21 @@ with lib;
   ###### implementation
   config = mkIf config.services.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop.enable {
     services.pipewire.enable = true;
+    services.dbus.packages = [ pkgs.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop ];
+
+    environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop ];
 
     systemd.packages = [ pkgs.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop ];
     systemd.tmpfiles.packages = [ pkgs.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop ];
+
+    # TODO: if possible, switch to using provided g-r-d sysusers.d
+    users = {
+      users.gnome-remote-desktop = {
+        isSystemUser = true;
+        group = "gnome-remote-desktop";
+        home = "/var/lib/gnome-remote-desktop";
+      };
+      groups.gnome-remote-desktop = { };
+    };
   };
 }