diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/networking/syncthing.nix b/nixos/modules/services/networking/syncthing.nix
index e011172ffa7..d78a54a3327 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/networking/syncthing.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/networking/syncthing.nix
@@ -426,7 +426,9 @@ in {
           '';
         };
       };
-      syncthing-init = {
+      syncthing-init = mkIf (
+        cfg.declarative.devices != {} || cfg.declarative.folders != {}
+      ) {
         after = [ "syncthing.service" ];
         wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];