diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/zsh/zsh-syntax-highlighting.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/zsh/zsh-syntax-highlighting.nix
index 3bd7ab818961..9452489e2fb4 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/zsh/zsh-syntax-highlighting.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/zsh/zsh-syntax-highlighting.nix
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ in
         };
 
         patterns = mkOption {
-          default = [];
+          default = {};
           type = types.attrsOf types.string;
 
           example = literalExample ''