diff --git a/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh b/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
index de9b136d02a..69c67de6e3a 100644
--- a/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
+++ b/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
@@ -134,9 +134,11 @@ export MODULE_DIR=@kernel@/lib/modules/
 # Run any user-specified commands.
 @shell@ @postBootCommands@
 
+
 # For debugging Upstart.
 #@shell@ --login < /dev/console > /dev/console 2>&1 &
 
+
 # Start Upstart's init.
 echo "starting Upstart..."
 PATH=/var/run/current-system/upstart/sbin exec init
diff --git a/modules/system/upstart-events/runlevel.nix b/modules/system/upstart-events/runlevel.nix
index 96864594509..10d108d9f40 100644
--- a/modules/system/upstart-events/runlevel.nix
+++ b/modules/system/upstart-events/runlevel.nix
@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@ with pkgs.lib;
 
 {
 
+  # After booting, go to runlevel 2.  (NixOS doesn't really use
+  # runlevels, but this keeps wtmp happy.)
+  jobs.boot =
+    { name = "boot";
+      startOn = "startup";
+      task = true;
+      script = "telinit 2";
+    };
+
   jobs.runlevel =
     { name = "runlevel";
 
diff --git a/modules/system/upstart-events/shutdown.nix b/modules/system/upstart-events/shutdown.nix
index 283782fb4d1..2aad17cd1ac 100644
--- a/modules/system/upstart-events/shutdown.nix
+++ b/modules/system/upstart-events/shutdown.nix
@@ -58,8 +58,12 @@ with pkgs.lib;
               initctl emit -n startup
               exit 0
           fi
-                
-      
+
+
+          # Write a shutdown record to wtmp while /var/log is still writable.
+          reboot --wtmp-only
+
+
           # Set the hardware clock to the system time.
           echo "setting the hardware clock..."
           hwclock --systohc --utc