diff --git a/faucet/libvirt/default.nix b/faucet/libvirt/default.nix
index 4147a975..48dacbbf 100644
--- a/faucet/libvirt/default.nix
+++ b/faucet/libvirt/default.nix
@@ -26,5 +26,8 @@ in {
     environment.persistence."/nix/persist/fhs".directories = [
       "/var/lib/libvirt"
     ];
+
+    # allow management by admin users
+    users.adminGroups = [ "libvirtd" ];
   };
 }