diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/stumpwm.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/stumpwm.nix
index a876f13fd214..eb7b8665f23c 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/stumpwm.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/window-managers/stumpwm.nix
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ in
   config = mkIf cfg.enable {
     services.xserver.windowManager.session = singleton {
       name = "stumpwm";
-      start = "
-        ${pkgs.stumpwm}/bin/stumpwm
-      ";
+      start = ''
+        ${pkgs.stumpwm}/bin/stumpwm &
+        waitPID=$!
+      '';
     };
     environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.stumpwm ];
   };