diff --git a/pkgs/games/gnubg/default.nix b/pkgs/games/gnubg/default.nix
index d658ef57ff84..84bc7f5df8af 100644
--- a/pkgs/games/gnubg/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/games/gnubg/default.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, pkg-config, glib, python3, gtk2, readline }:
+{ lib, stdenv, fetchurl, pkg-config, glib, python3, gtk2, readline,
+  copyDesktopItems, makeDesktopItem }:
 
 stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   pname = "gnubg";
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     hash = "sha256-cjmXKUGcrZ8RLDBmoS0AANpFCkVq3XsJTYkVUGnWgh4=";
   };
 
-  nativeBuildInputs = [ pkg-config python3 glib ];
+  nativeBuildInputs = [ copyDesktopItems pkg-config python3 glib ];
 
   buildInputs = [ gtk2 readline ];
 
@@ -17,6 +18,16 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   configureFlags = [ "--with-gtk" "--with--board3d" ];
 
+  desktopItems = makeDesktopItem {
+    desktopName = "GNU Backgammon";
+    name = pname;
+    genericName = "Backgammon";
+    comment = meta.description;
+    exec = pname;
+    icon = pname;
+    categories = [ "Game" "GTK" "StrategyGame" ];
+  };
+
   meta = with lib;
     { description = "World class backgammon application";
       homepage = "https://www.gnu.org/software/gnubg/";