diff --git a/gnu/system/dmd.scm b/gnu/system/dmd.scm
index aec7d03759200ed86e5fd19837eeb20c96b9361c..307412a5d54b7f36ee5323877eb46ee586c91820 100644
--- a/gnu/system/dmd.scm
+++ b/gnu/system/dmd.scm
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ (define config
                               (not (member file '("." ".."))))))
 
          ;; Prevent ETC from being GC'd.
+         (rm-f "/var/nix/gcroots/etc-directory")
          (symlink ,etc "/var/nix/gcroots/etc-directory"))
 
        (format #t "starting services...~%")