diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix
index ee4ec0fc819..8f081a1e9d2 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/x11/desktop-managers/kde5.nix
@@ -249,6 +249,11 @@ in
 
       security.pam.services.kde = { allowNullPassword = true; };
 
+      # use kimpanel as the default IBus panel
+      i18n.inputMethod.ibus.panel =
+        lib.mkDefault
+        "${pkgs.kde5.plasma-desktop}/lib/libexec/kimpanel-ibus-panel";
+
     })
   ];