diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix
index 899c5a91fb3..6b01cde9e2b 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix
@@ -79,7 +79,9 @@ let
       ''}
 
       # Load X defaults.
-      if test -e ~/.Xdefaults; then
+      if test -e ~/.Xresources; then
+          ${xorg.xrdb}/bin/xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources
+      elif test -e ~/.Xdefaults; then
           ${xorg.xrdb}/bin/xrdb -merge ~/.Xdefaults
       fi