diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/i3.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/i3.nix
index c9b0669e7ba5..0ef55d5f2c03 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/i3.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/i3.nix
@@ -60,12 +60,15 @@ in
         ${cfg.extraSessionCommands}
 
         ${cfg.package}/bin/i3 ${optionalString (cfg.configFile != null)
-          "-c \"${cfg.configFile}\""
+          "-c /etc/i3/config"
         } &
         waitPID=$!
       '';
     }];
     environment.systemPackages = [ cfg.package ] ++ cfg.extraPackages;
+    environment.etc."i3/config" = mkIf (cfg.configFile != null) {
+      source = cfg.configFile;
+    };
   };
 
   imports = [