diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix b/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
index e8a21c352bd..26e7cbfca73 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ in
 
       daemonIOSchedPriority = mkOption {
         type = types.int;
-        default = 0;
+        default = 4;
         example = 1;
         description = lib.mdDoc ''
           Nix daemon process I/O scheduling priority. This priority propagates