diff --git a/configuration/upstart.nix b/configuration/upstart.nix
index 9f192bdd4a77..3373ca335c4b 100644
--- a/configuration/upstart.nix
+++ b/configuration/upstart.nix
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ let
   };
 
   optional = option: service:
-    if config.get option then [service] else [];
+    if config.get option then [(makeJob service)] else [];
 
 in
 
diff --git a/instances/examples/basic.nix b/instances/examples/basic.nix
index d5357785810d..eedfa5f74b6f 100644
--- a/instances/examples/basic.nix
+++ b/instances/examples/basic.nix
@@ -5,4 +5,9 @@
     readOnlyRoot = false;
     grubDevice = "/dev/hda";
   };
+  services = {
+    sshd = {
+      enable = true;
+    };
+  };
 }