diff --git a/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm b/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm
index 6549efd8df..e94e666d93 100644
--- a/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm
+++ b/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ (define (home-dbus-shepherd-services config)
                                      (format #f "/run/user/~a"
                                              (getuid)))))
                    #:environment-variables
-                   #~(list "DBUS_VERBOSE=1")
+                   '(list "DBUS_VERBOSE=1")
                    #:log-file
                    (format #f "~a/dbus.log"
                            (or (getenv "XDG_LOG_HOME")