diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix b/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
index 5ca879bf2664..c0eb882c58f3 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ in
       };
 
       maxJobs = mkOption {
-        type = types.int;
+        type = types.either types.int (types.enum ["auto"]);
         default = 1;
         example = 64;
         description = ''