diff --git a/pkgs/tools/inputmethods/fcitx5/fcitx5-rime.nix b/pkgs/tools/inputmethods/fcitx5/fcitx5-rime.nix
index d6c7eda599a4..323cf54a0ff4 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/inputmethods/fcitx5/fcitx5-rime.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/inputmethods/fcitx5/fcitx5-rime.nix
@@ -43,7 +43,12 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   rimeDataDrv = symlinkJoin {
     name = "fcitx5-rime-data";
     paths = rimeDataPkgs;
-    postBuild = "mkdir -p $out/share/rime-data";
+    postBuild = ''
+      mkdir -p $out/share/rime-data
+
+      # Ensure default.yaml exists
+      [ -e "$out/share/rime-data/default.yaml" ] || touch "$out/share/rime-data/default.yaml"
+    '';
   };
 
   postInstall = ''