diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index 61cbaef2808..79f52acc23b 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 ;;; Copyright © 2020 Brice Waegeneire <brice@waegenei.re>
 ;;; Copyright © 2020 Florian Pelz <pelzflorian@pelzflorian.de>
 ;;; Copyright © 2020 Maxim Cournoyer <maxim.cournoyer@gmail.com>
+;;; Copyright © 2020 Jan (janneke) Nieuwenhuizen <jannek@gnu.org>
 ;;;
 ;;; This file is part of GNU Guix.
 ;;;
@@ -127,6 +128,8 @@
             operating-system-with-gc-roots
             operating-system-with-provenance
 
+            hurd-default-essential-services
+
             boot-parameters
             boot-parameters?
             boot-parameters-label
@@ -574,6 +577,10 @@ bookkeeping."
                          (service firmware-service-type
                                   (operating-system-firmware os)))))))
 
+(define (hurd-default-essential-services os)
+  (list (service system-service-type '())
+        (service profile-service-type '())))
+
 (define* (operating-system-services os)
   "Return all the services of OS, including \"essential\" services."
   (instantiate-missing-services