diff --git a/pkgs/tools/networking/networkmanager/applet/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/networking/networkmanager/applet/default.nix
index 9eefd2afead7..12ec5d8a506f 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/networking/networkmanager/applet/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/networking/networkmanager/applet/default.nix
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     description = "NetworkManager control applet for GNOME";
     license = licenses.gpl2Plus;
     maintainers = with maintainers; [ ];
+    mainProgram = "nm-applet";
     platforms = platforms.linux;
   };
 }