diff --git a/modules/misc/xfconf.nix b/modules/misc/xfconf.nix
index ab21a66b3..f9858c5fa 100644
--- a/modules/misc/xfconf.nix
+++ b/modules/misc/xfconf.nix
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ in {
     settings = mkOption {
       type = with types;
       # xfIntVariant must come AFTER str; otherwise strings are treated as submodule imports...
-        let value = oneOf [ bool int float str xfIntVariant ];
+        let value = nullOr (oneOf [ bool int float str xfIntVariant ]);
         in attrsOf (attrsOf (either value (listOf value))) // {
           description = "xfconf settings";
         };
@@ -108,8 +108,11 @@ in {
         mkCommand = channel: property: value: ''
           $DRY_RUN_CMD ${pkgs.xfce.xfconf}/bin/xfconf-query \
             ${
-              escapeShellArgs
-              ([ "-n" "-c" channel "-p" "/${property}" ] ++ withType value)
+              escapeShellArgs ([ "-c" channel "-p" "/${property}" ]
+                ++ (if value == null then
+                  [ "-r" ]
+                else
+                  [ "-n" ] ++ withType value))
             }
         '';