diff --git a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/bin.nix b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/bin.nix
index ba26d9e6041d..7549f0c1528b 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/bin.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/lima/bin.nix
@@ -57,10 +57,17 @@ stdenvNoCC.mkDerivation {
     chmod +x $out/bin/limactl
     wrapProgram $out/bin/limactl \
       --prefix PATH : ${lib.makeBinPath [ qemu ]}
-    installShellCompletion --cmd limactl \
-      --bash <($out/bin/limactl completion bash) \
-      --fish <($out/bin/limactl completion fish) \
-      --zsh <($out/bin/limactl completion zsh)
+
+    # the shell completion only works with a patched $out/bin/limactl and so
+    # needs to run after the autoPatchelfHook is executed in postFixup.
+    doShellCompletion() {
+      installShellCompletion --cmd limactl \
+        --bash <($out/bin/limactl completion bash) \
+        --fish <($out/bin/limactl completion fish) \
+        --zsh <($out/bin/limactl completion zsh)
+    }
+    postFixupHooks+=(doShellCompletion)
+
     runHook postInstall
   '';