diff --git a/upstart-jobs/default.nix b/upstart-jobs/default.nix
index 839769d028d..f804240a50b 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/default.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/default.nix
@@ -363,6 +363,7 @@ let
   ++ optional config.services.hal.enable
     (import ../upstart-jobs/hal.nix {
       inherit (pkgs) stdenv hal;
+      inherit config;
     })
 
   ++ optional config.services.gpm.enable 
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/hal.nix b/upstart-jobs/hal.nix
index 0fa47bf5eeb..8b59c079eb8 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/hal.nix
+++ b/upstart-jobs/hal.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{stdenv, hal}:
+{stdenv, hal, config}:
 
 {
   name = "hal";
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
     # !!! TODO: make sure that HAL starts after acpid,
     # otherwise hald-addon-acpi will grab /proc/acpi/event.
-    start on dbus
+    start on ${if config.powerManagement.enable then "acpid" else "dbus"}
     stop on shutdown
 
     start script