diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix b/nixos/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix
index 0f75a96be3c..48409b5c91d 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/printing/cupsd.nix
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ in
 
       startWhenNeeded = mkOption {
         type = types.bool;
-        default = false;
+        default = true;
         description = ''
           If set, CUPS is socket-activated; that is,
           instead of having it permanently running as a daemon,