diff --git a/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix b/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix
index c35897e2f60..fcb30187fa2 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix
@@ -110,6 +110,11 @@ in
 
   config = mkIf enabled {
     assertions = [
+      {
+        assertion = with config.services.xserver.displayManager; gdm.nvidiaWayland -> cfg.modesetting.enable;
+        message = "You cannot use wayland with GDM without modesetting enabled for NVIDIA drivers, set `hardware.nvidia.modesetting.enable = true`";
+      }
+
       {
         assertion = !optimusCfg.enable ||
           (optimusCfg.nvidiaBusId != "" && optimusCfg.intelBusId != "");