diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/security/clamav.nix b/nixos/modules/services/security/clamav.nix
index 057891a6047..a4d54301fc1 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/security/clamav.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/security/clamav.nix
@@ -71,10 +71,10 @@ in
             mkdir -m 0755 -p ${stateDir}
             chown ${clamavUser}:${clamavGroup} ${stateDir}
           '';
-          exec = "${pkgs.clamav}/bin/freshclam --config-file=${pkgs.writeText "freshclam.conf" cfg.updater.config}";
+          exec = "${pkgs.clamav}/bin/freshclam --daemon --config-file=${pkgs.writeText "freshclam.conf" cfg.updater.config}";
       }; 
     };
 
   };
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}