diff --git a/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/wingpanel/default.nix b/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/wingpanel/default.nix
index 2e3f51b4a6a6..681b6b30bcb3 100644
--- a/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/wingpanel/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/desktops/pantheon/desktop/wingpanel/default.nix
@@ -64,8 +64,11 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
   preFixup = ''
     gappsWrapperArgs+=(
-      # this theme is required
+      # this GTK theme is required
       --prefix XDG_DATA_DIRS : "${elementary-gtk-theme}/share"
+
+      # the icon theme is required
+      --prefix XDG_DATA_DIRS : "$XDG_ICON_DIRS"
     )
   '';