diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/README b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/README
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..78c75ff7098e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/README
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Each desktop manager should explicitly specify a value for `services.xserver.displayManager.desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower`.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/e19.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/e19.nix
index 2d5c7b192bc6..74065c862ef7 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/e19.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/e19.nix
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ in
         waitPID=$!
       '';
     }];
+    services.xserver.displayManager.desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower = true;
 
     security.setuidPrograms = [ "e19_freqset" ];
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde4.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde4.nix
index 21b6243ba188..7830e984219a 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde4.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde4.nix
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ in
             exec ${kde_workspace}/bin/startkde
           '';
       };
+    services.xserver.displayManager.desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower = true;
 
     security.setuidOwners = singleton
       { program = "kcheckpass";
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix
index 5061d59b7c7f..01a8704fea71 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ in
       bgSupport = true;
       start = ''exec ${plasma5.plasma-workspace}/bin/startkde;'';
     };
+    services.xserver.displayManager.desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower = true;
 
     security.setuidOwners = singleton {
       program = "kcheckpass";
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kodi.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kodi.nix
index 1e30308a5139..e6d6efaf3a61 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kodi.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kodi.nix
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ in
         waitPID=$!
       '';
     }];
+    services.xserver.displayManager.desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower = true;
 
     environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.kodi ];
   };
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/xfce.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/xfce.nix
index 88eefa13de35..746f810a11ff 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/xfce.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/xfce.nix
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ in
             exec ${pkgs.stdenv.shell} ${pkgs.xfce.xinitrc}
           '';
       };
+    services.xserver.displayManager.desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower = true;
 
     environment.systemPackages =
       [ pkgs.gtk # To get GTK+'s themes.
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix
index 991043d73c6d..98e36954712e 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/display-managers/default.nix
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ in
 
       desktopManagerHandlesLidAndPower = mkOption {
         type = types.bool;
-        default = true;
+        default = false;
         description = ''
           Whether the display manager should prevent systemd from handling
           lid and power events. This is normally handled by the desktop