diff --git a/modules/misc/xdg-desktop-entries.nix b/modules/misc/xdg-desktop-entries.nix
index 3274f6ec9..c538eda33 100644
--- a/modules/misc/xdg-desktop-entries.nix
+++ b/modules/misc/xdg-desktop-entries.nix
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ let
       exec = mkOption {
         description = "Program to execute, possibly with arguments.";
         type = types.nullOr types.str;
+        default = null;
       };
 
       icon = mkOption {
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ let
           options.exec = mkOption {
             type = types.nullOr types.str;
             description = "Program to execute, possibly with arguments.";
+            default = null;
           };
           options.icon = mkOption {
             type = with types; nullOr (either str path);
@@ -162,10 +164,6 @@ let
     };
   };
 
-  #formatting helpers
-  semicolonList = list:
-    (concatStringsSep ";" list) + ";"; # requires trailing semicolon
-
   #passes config options to makeDesktopItem in expected format
   makeFile = name: config:
     pkgs.makeDesktopItem {
diff --git a/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-entries.nix b/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-entries.nix
index 541a7cc53..5f00029b6 100644
--- a/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-entries.nix
+++ b/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-entries.nix
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ with lib;
         };
       };
       min = { # minimal definition
-        exec = "test --option";
         name = "Test";
       };
       deprecated = {
diff --git a/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-min-expected.desktop b/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-min-expected.desktop
index 1b36b57c6..da4d7bfd2 100644
--- a/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-min-expected.desktop
+++ b/tests/modules/misc/xdg/desktop-min-expected.desktop
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 [Desktop Entry]
-Exec=test --option
 Name=Test
 Terminal=false
 Type=Application