diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/docker.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/docker.nix
index 66c94f30088f..d9bd10ba1fc8 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/docker.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/docker.nix
@@ -221,6 +221,8 @@ in
         '';
 
         startAt = optional cfg.autoPrune.enable cfg.autoPrune.dates;
+        after = [ "docker.service" ];
+        requires = [ "docker.service" ];
       };
 
       assertions = [
diff --git a/nixos/tests/docker.nix b/nixos/tests/docker.nix
index dee7480eb4a9..93baa198088b 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/docker.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/docker.nix
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
       { pkgs, ... }:
         {
           virtualisation.docker.enable = true;
+          virtualisation.docker.autoPrune.enable = true;
           virtualisation.docker.package = pkgs.docker;
 
           users.users = {