diff --git a/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm b/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm
index 45a319c0f8..91465bf168 100644
--- a/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm
+++ b/gnu/home/services/desktop.scm
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ (define (x11-shepherd-service delay)
 
               (let ((display (or display (find-display #$delay))))
                 (when display
+                  ;; Note: 'make-forkexec-constructor' calls take their
+                  ;; default #:environment-variables value before this service
+                  ;; is started and are thus unaffected by the 'setenv' call
+                  ;; below.  Users of this service have to explicitly query
+                  ;; its value.
                   (setenv "DISPLAY" display))
                 display)))
          (stop #~(lambda (_)
@@ -244,9 +249,20 @@ (define (redshift-shepherd-service config)
          ;; available, and fails to start otherwise.
          (requirement '(x11-display))
 
-         (start #~(make-forkexec-constructor
-                   (list #$(file-append (home-redshift-configuration-redshift config) "/bin/redshift")
-                         "-c" #$config-file)))
+         (modules '((srfi srfi-1)
+                    (srfi srfi-26)))
+         (start #~(lambda _
+                    (fork+exec-command
+                     (list #$(file-append
+                              (home-redshift-configuration-redshift config)
+                              "/bin/redshift")
+                           "-c" #$config-file)
+
+                     ;; Inherit the 'DISPLAY' variable set by 'x11-display'.
+                     #:environment-variables
+                     (cons (string-append "DISPLAY=" (getenv "DISPLAY"))
+                           (remove (cut string-prefix? "DISPLAY=" <>)
+                                   (default-environment-variables))))))
          (stop #~(make-kill-destructor))
          (actions (list (shepherd-configuration-action config-file))))))