diff --git a/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix b/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix
index 2d611ad7278..e33e2245dbc 100644
--- a/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix
+++ b/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ in
 
         preStart =
           ''
+            mkdir -m 0755 -p /etc/cups
             mkdir -m 0755 -p ${logDir}
             mkdir -m 0700 -p /var/cache/cups
             mkdir -m 0700 -p /var/spool/cups