diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6c788a27c6..849e886afe 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ qtox
 build-*-Release
 build-*-Profile
 build-*-Debug
+.qtox-wrapped
 
 # Folders
 _[Bb]uild*/
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f6d9da221d..ef2e859bcf 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -714,3 +714,12 @@ target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
 
 include(Testing)
 include(Installation)
+
+if (DEFINED ENV{IN_NIX_SHELL})
+  # the qtox binary must be "wrapped" to find the Qt platform plugin
+  # and other dependencies at runtime
+  add_custom_command(
+    TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME}
+    POST_BUILD
+    COMMAND nix-shell --run "wrapQtApp ${PROJECT_NAME}")
+endif()
diff --git a/shell.nix b/shell.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e923640936
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+{ pkgs ? import <nixpkgs> { } }:
+pkgs.mkShell { inputsFrom = with pkgs; [ qtox ]; }