diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/xdg/icons.nix b/nixos/modules/config/xdg/icons.nix
index cc82b9e94f9..4677ce090b0 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/xdg/icons.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/xdg/icons.nix
@@ -19,9 +19,20 @@ with lib;
       "/share/pixmaps"
     ];
 
-    environment.profileRelativeSessionVariables = {
-      XCURSOR_PATH = [ "/share/icons" ];
-    };
+    # libXcursor looks for cursors in XCURSOR_PATH
+    # it mostly follows the spec for icons
+    # See: https://www.x.org/releases/current/doc/man/man3/Xcursor.3.xhtml Themes
+
+    # These are preferred so they come first in the list
+    environment.sessionVariables.XCURSOR_PATH = [
+      "$HOME/.icons"
+      "$HOME/.local/share/icons"
+    ];
+
+    environment.profileRelativeSessionVariables.XCURSOR_PATH = [
+      "/share/icons"
+      "/share/pixmaps"
+    ];
   };
 
 }
diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/environment.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/environment.nix
index 4bbc750fd52..fcffb213498 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/environment.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/environment.nix
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ in
       { NIXPKGS_CONFIG = "/etc/nix/nixpkgs-config.nix";
         PAGER = mkDefault "less -R";
         EDITOR = mkDefault "nano";
-        XCURSOR_PATH = [ "$HOME/.icons" ];
         XDG_CONFIG_DIRS = [ "/etc/xdg" ]; # needs to be before profile-relative paths to allow changes through environment.etc
         GTK_DATA_PREFIX = "${config.system.path}"; # needed for gtk2 apps to find themes
         GTK_EXE_PREFIX = "${config.system.path}";