diff --git a/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.fish.in b/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.fish.in
index 400696812..e7b394d56 100644
--- a/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.fish.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.fish.in
@@ -19,6 +19,14 @@ set __ETC_PROFILE_NIX_SOURCED 1
 
 set --export NIX_PROFILES "@localstatedir@/nix/profiles/default $HOME/.nix-profile"
 
+# Populate bash completions, .desktop files, etc
+if test -n "$NIX_SSH_CERT_FILE"
+    # According to XDG spec the default is /usr/local/share:/usr/share, don't set something that prevents that default
+    set --export XDG_DATA_DIRS "/usr/local/share:/usr/share:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+else
+    set --export XDG_DATA_DIRS "$XDG_DATA_DIRS:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+end
+
 # Set $NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE so that Nixpkgs applications like curl work.
 if test -n "$NIX_SSH_CERT_FILE"
   : # Allow users to override the NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE
diff --git a/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in b/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in
index 8cfd3149e..3089cec66 100644
--- a/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-profile-daemon.sh.in
@@ -30,6 +30,14 @@ fi
 
 export NIX_PROFILES="@localstatedir@/nix/profiles/default $NIX_LINK"
 
+# Populate bash completions, .desktop files, etc
+if [ -n "${XDG_DATA_DIRS-}" ]; then
+    # According to XDG spec the default is /usr/local/share:/usr/share, don't set something that prevents that default
+    export XDG_DATA_DIRS="/usr/local/share:/usr/share:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+else
+    export XDG_DATA_DIRS="$XDG_DATA_DIRS:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+fi
+
 # Set $NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE so that Nixpkgs applications like curl work.
 if [ -n "${NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE:-}" ]; then
     : # Allow users to override the NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE
diff --git a/scripts/nix-profile.fish.in b/scripts/nix-profile.fish.in
index 731498c76..fc8fe4e97 100644
--- a/scripts/nix-profile.fish.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-profile.fish.in
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ if test -n "$HOME" && test -n "$USER"
     # This part should be kept in sync with nixpkgs:nixos/modules/programs/environment.nix
     set --export NIX_PROFILES "@localstatedir@/nix/profiles/default $HOME/.nix-profile"
 
+    # Populate bash completions, .desktop files, etc
+    if test -n "$NIX_SSH_CERT_FILE"
+        # According to XDG spec the default is /usr/local/share:/usr/share, don't set something that prevents that default
+        set --export XDG_DATA_DIRS "/usr/local/share:/usr/share:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+    else
+        set --export XDG_DATA_DIRS "$XDG_DATA_DIRS:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+    end
+
     # Set $NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE so that Nixpkgs applications like curl work.
     if test -n "$NIX_SSH_CERT_FILE"
         : # Allow users to override the NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE
diff --git a/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in b/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in
index c4d60cf37..a0d098588 100644
--- a/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in
+++ b/scripts/nix-profile.sh.in
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ if [ -n "$HOME" ] && [ -n "$USER" ]; then
     # This part should be kept in sync with nixpkgs:nixos/modules/programs/environment.nix
     export NIX_PROFILES="@localstatedir@/nix/profiles/default $NIX_LINK"
 
+    # Populate bash completions, .desktop files, etc
+    if [ -n "${XDG_DATA_DIRS-}" ]; then
+        # According to XDG spec the default is /usr/local/share:/usr/share, don't set something that prevents that default
+        export XDG_DATA_DIRS="/usr/local/share:/usr/share:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+    else
+        export XDG_DATA_DIRS="$XDG_DATA_DIRS:$NIX_LINK/share:/nix/var/nix/profiles/default/share"
+    fi
+
     # Set $NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE so that Nixpkgs applications like curl work.
     if [ -e /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt ]; then # NixOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Gentoo, Arch
         export NIX_SSL_CERT_FILE=/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt