diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1809.xml b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1809.xml
index d3062b3ea32..667437a2413 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1809.xml
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-1809.xml
@@ -322,6 +322,14 @@ inherit (pkgs.nixos {
      <literal>kubectl delete clusterrolebinding kubernetes-dashboard</literal>
     </para>
    </listitem>
+   <listitem>
+    <para>
+     The <varname>programs.screen</varname> module provides allows to configure
+     <literal>/etc/screenrc</literal>, however the module behaved fairly counterintuitive as
+     the config exists, but the package wasn't available. Since 18.09 <literal>pkgs.screen</literal>
+     will be added to <literal>environment.systemPackages</literal>.
+    </para>
+   </listitem>
   </itemizedlist>
  </section>
 </section>
diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/screen.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/screen.nix
index f82338a69d2..c1daaa58f16 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/screen.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/screen.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{ config, lib, ... }:
+{ config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
 
 let
   inherit (lib) mkOption mkIf types;
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ in
 
   config = mkIf (cfg.screenrc != "") {
     environment.etc."screenrc".text = cfg.screenrc;
+
+    environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.screen ];
   };
 
 }