diff --git a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/krusader/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/krusader/default.nix
index 9895cc108ef6..a8635a416396 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/krusader/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/krusader/default.nix
@@ -43,5 +43,6 @@ mkDerivation rec {
     description = "Norton/Total Commander clone for KDE";
     license = licenses.gpl2Only;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ sander turion ];
+    mainProgram = "krusader";
   };
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/mc/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/mc/default.nix
index a61b0980d851..65211bb54391 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/mc/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/mc/default.nix
@@ -93,5 +93,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     license = licenses.gpl2Plus;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ sander ];
     platforms = with platforms; linux ++ darwin;
+    mainProgram = "mc";
   };
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/nnn/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/nnn/default.nix
index 6386018348a0..eb3e943676e4 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/nnn/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/nnn/default.nix
@@ -78,5 +78,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     license = licenses.bsd2;
     platforms = platforms.all;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ jfrankenau Br1ght0ne ];
+    mainProgram = "nnn";
   };
 })
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/pcmanfm/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/pcmanfm/default.nix
index deb9a98a517c..bfbe68d885e6 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/pcmanfm/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/pcmanfm/default.nix
@@ -39,5 +39,6 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     description = "File manager with GTK interface";
     maintainers = [ maintainers.ttuegel ];
     platforms = platforms.linux;
+    mainProgram = "pcmanfm";
   };
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/ranger/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/ranger/default.nix
index a192edb0b32a..96d43dc8f247 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/file-managers/ranger/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/file-managers/ranger/default.nix
@@ -55,5 +55,6 @@ python3Packages.buildPythonApplication rec {
     license = licenses.gpl3Only;
     platforms = platforms.unix;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ toonn magnetophon ];
+    mainProgram = "ranger";
   };
 }