diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/atuin.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/atuin.nix
index 51541959606a..e17b866696a4 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/atuin.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/atuin.nix
@@ -125,9 +125,9 @@ in
     environment.variables.ATUIN_CONFIG_DIR = "/etc/atuin";
 
     environment.etc = lib.mkMerge [
-      (lib.mkIf (cfg.settings != { }) {
+      {
         "atuin/config.toml".source = settingsFile;
-      })
+      }
 
       (lib.mkIf (cfg.themes != { }) (
         builtins.mapAttrs' (
diff --git a/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix b/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
index 919f8ade8756..2c0b62c757ca 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ in
   atticd = runTest ./atticd.nix;
   attr = pkgs.callPackage ./attr.nix { };
   atuin = runTest ./atuin.nix;
+  atuin-default-settings = runTest ./atuin-default-settings.nix;
   atuin-programs = runTest ./atuin-programs.nix;
   audiobookshelf = runTest ./audiobookshelf.nix;
   audit = runTest ./audit.nix;
diff --git a/nixos/tests/atuin-default-settings.nix b/nixos/tests/atuin-default-settings.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e75f0e291e94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/tests/atuin-default-settings.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{ pkgs, ... }:
+{
+  name = "atuin-default-settings";
+  meta.maintainers = pkgs.atuin.meta.maintainers;
+
+  nodes.machine = {
+    programs.atuin.enable = true;
+  };
+
+  testScript = ''
+    start_all()
+    machine.wait_for_unit("default.target")
+
+    machine.succeed("test -f /etc/atuin/config.toml")
+    machine.succeed("bash -lc 'atuin doctor'")
+  '';
+}
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/at/atuin/package.nix b/pkgs/by-name/at/atuin/package.nix
index dac5a4961653..afa778eb4e56 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/at/atuin/package.nix
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/at/atuin/package.nix
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ rustPlatform.buildRustPackage (finalAttrs: {
 
   passthru = {
     tests = {
-      inherit (nixosTests) atuin atuin-programs;
+      inherit (nixosTests) atuin atuin-programs atuin-default-settings;
     };
     updateScript = nix-update-script { };
   };