diff --git a/pkgs/tools/networking/wicd/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/networking/wicd/default.nix
index 19f30713a9fe..72d41519c7ce 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/networking/wicd/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/networking/wicd/default.nix
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
     # <http://wicd.net/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=87>.
     cp -v "${./wpa2-ttls}" "$out/etc/encryption/templates/wpa2-ttls"
     echo "wpa2-ttls" >> "$out/etc/encryption/templates/active"
+
+    # have wicd generate upstart events
+    echo '#!/bin/sh
+initctl emit -n wicd-preconnect ITYPE="$1" ESSID="$2" BSSID="$3"' > $out/etc/scripts/preconnect/upstart-emit
+    echo '#!/bin/sh
+initctl emit -n wicd-postconnect ITYPE="$1" ESSID="$2" BSSID="$3"' > $out/etc/scripts/postconnect/upstart-emit
+    echo '#!/bin/sh
+initctl emit -n wicd-predisconnect ITYPE="$1" ESSID="$2" BSSID="$3"' > $out/etc/scripts/predisconnect/upstart-emit
+    echo '#!/bin/sh
+initctl emit -n wicd-postdisconnect ITYPE="$1" ESSID="$2" BSSID="$3"' > $out/etc/scripts/postdisconnect/upstart-emit
+    chmod a+x $out/etc/scripts/*/upstart-emit
   '';
 
   meta = {