diff --git a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2305.section.md b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2305.section.md
index 3e63ddced6115..ba4055bbaf495 100644
--- a/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2305.section.md
+++ b/nixos/doc/manual/release-notes/rl-2305.section.md
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ In addition to numerous new and upgraded packages, this release has the followin
 
   - default linux: 5.15 -\> 6.1, all supported kernels available
 
+  - systemd has been updated to v253.1, see [the pull request](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/216826) for more info.
+    It's recommended to use `nixos-rebuild boot` and `reboot`, rather than `nixos-rebuild switch` - since in some rare cases
+    the switch of a live system might fail.
+
 - Cinnamon has been updated to 5.6, see [the pull request](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/pull/201328#issue-1449910204) for what is changed.
 
 - KDE Plasma has been updated to v5.27, see [the release notes](https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/5/5.27.0/) for what is changed.
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0002-Don-t-try-to-unmount-nix-or-nix-store.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0002-Don-t-try-to-unmount-nix-or-nix-store.patch
index 42a5806958110..138823ec68f5f 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0002-Don-t-try-to-unmount-nix-or-nix-store.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0002-Don-t-try-to-unmount-nix-or-nix-store.patch
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@ https://github.com/NixOS/nixos/issues/126
  2 files changed, 4 insertions(+)
 
 diff --git a/src/shared/fstab-util.c b/src/shared/fstab-util.c
-index f683f05981..5a04c2c2a6 100644
+index 164e71a150..68e0766594 100644
 --- a/src/shared/fstab-util.c
 +++ b/src/shared/fstab-util.c
-@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ bool fstab_is_extrinsic(const char *mount, const char *opts) {
+@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ bool fstab_is_extrinsic(const char *mount, const char *opts) {
          /* Don't bother with the OS data itself */
          if (PATH_IN_SET(mount,
                          "/",
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ index f683f05981..5a04c2c2a6 100644
                          "/etc"))
                  return true;
 diff --git a/src/shutdown/umount.c b/src/shutdown/umount.c
-index e650b82170..5d0d41aa28 100644
+index 61bd9d2601..a6243da417 100644
 --- a/src/shutdown/umount.c
 +++ b/src/shutdown/umount.c
-@@ -522,6 +522,8 @@ static int delete_md(MountPoint *m) {
+@@ -531,6 +531,8 @@ static int delete_md(MountPoint *m) {
  
  static bool nonunmountable_path(const char *path) {
          return path_equal(path, "/")
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0003-Fix-NixOS-containers.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0003-Fix-NixOS-containers.patch
index 8cc2e22d76150..349194fda45a5 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0003-Fix-NixOS-containers.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0003-Fix-NixOS-containers.patch
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ container, so checking early whether it exists will fail.
  1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)
 
 diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
-index 01a67b5553..86dd2cea84 100644
+index 36d336dfc8..d62c5173ca 100644
 --- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
 +++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
-@@ -5636,6 +5636,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+@@ -5634,6 +5634,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                  goto finish;
                          }
                  } else {
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ index 01a67b5553..86dd2cea84 100644
                          _cleanup_free_ char *p = NULL;
  
                          if (arg_pivot_root_new)
-@@ -5650,6 +5651,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+@@ -5648,6 +5649,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                                                      "Directory %s doesn't look like it has an OS tree (/usr/ directory is missing). Refusing.", arg_directory);
                                  goto finish;
                          }
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0004-Look-for-fsck-in-the-right-place.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0004-Look-for-fsck-in-the-right-place.patch
index 1e602fdee6b91..c31b9122b9005 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0004-Look-for-fsck-in-the-right-place.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0004-Look-for-fsck-in-the-right-place.patch
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ Subject: [PATCH] Look for fsck in the right place
  1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/fsck/fsck.c b/src/fsck/fsck.c
-index 73c76fceea..d00cea7158 100644
+index e25c5d5efa..26f4e5669e 100644
 --- a/src/fsck/fsck.c
 +++ b/src/fsck/fsck.c
-@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
          if (r == 0) {
                  char dash_c[STRLEN("-C") + DECIMAL_STR_MAX(int) + 1];
                  int progress_socket = -1;
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ index 73c76fceea..d00cea7158 100644
                  const char *cmdline[9];
                  int i = 0;
  
-@@ -372,7 +373,10 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+@@ -371,7 +372,10 @@ static int run(int argc, char *argv[]) {
                  } else
                          dash_c[0] = 0;
  
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0005-Add-some-NixOS-specific-unit-directories.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0005-Add-some-NixOS-specific-unit-directories.patch
index 081615774c751..b4a0da30c8f61 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0005-Add-some-NixOS-specific-unit-directories.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0005-Add-some-NixOS-specific-unit-directories.patch
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Also, remove /usr and /lib as these don't exist on NixOS.
  2 files changed, 6 insertions(+), 19 deletions(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/basic/path-lookup.c b/src/basic/path-lookup.c
-index 36f386254b..a968d28dfc 100644
+index c99e9d8786..b9f85d1f8c 100644
 --- a/src/basic/path-lookup.c
 +++ b/src/basic/path-lookup.c
 @@ -92,11 +92,7 @@ int xdg_user_data_dir(char **ret, const char *suffix) {
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0006-Get-rid-of-a-useless-message-in-user-sessions.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0006-Get-rid-of-a-useless-message-in-user-sessions.patch
index 9b5afcaba9d4e..336e2b8831e7d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0006-Get-rid-of-a-useless-message-in-user-sessions.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0006-Get-rid-of-a-useless-message-in-user-sessions.patch
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ in containers.
  1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
-index a59afafb58..d9e7d77913 100644
+index 7b394794b0..50d092042c 100644
 --- a/src/core/manager.c
 +++ b/src/core/manager.c
-@@ -1432,7 +1432,8 @@ static unsigned manager_dispatch_stop_when_bound_queue(Manager *m) {
+@@ -1437,7 +1437,8 @@ static unsigned manager_dispatch_stop_when_bound_queue(Manager *m) {
                  if (!unit_is_bound_by_inactive(u, &culprit))
                          continue;
  
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0008-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0007-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
similarity index 96%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0008-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0007-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
index 69bd1cc97b27b..49e94b019c786 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0008-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0007-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Patch by vcunat.
  1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/libsystemd/sd-hwdb/hwdb-internal.h b/src/libsystemd/sd-hwdb/hwdb-internal.h
-index 62d27f7b89..87318e041b 100644
+index 5302679a62..c681f3a984 100644
 --- a/src/libsystemd/sd-hwdb/hwdb-internal.h
 +++ b/src/libsystemd/sd-hwdb/hwdb-internal.h
 @@ -83,8 +83,5 @@ struct trie_value_entry2_f {
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0007-hostnamed-localed-timedated-disable-methods-that-cha.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0007-hostnamed-localed-timedated-disable-methods-that-cha.patch
deleted file mode 100644
index f23d805fdac35..0000000000000
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0007-hostnamed-localed-timedated-disable-methods-that-cha.patch
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,105 +0,0 @@
-From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
-From: Gabriel Ebner <gebner@gebner.org>
-Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2015 14:26:36 +0100
-Subject: [PATCH] hostnamed, localed, timedated: disable methods that change
- system settings.
-
----
- src/hostname/hostnamed.c |  6 ++++++
- src/locale/localed.c     |  9 +++++++++
- src/timedate/timedated.c | 10 ++++++++++
- 3 files changed, 25 insertions(+)
-
-diff --git a/src/hostname/hostnamed.c b/src/hostname/hostnamed.c
-index 486b093062..580e933f14 100644
---- a/src/hostname/hostnamed.c
-+++ b/src/hostname/hostnamed.c
-@@ -906,6 +906,9 @@ static int method_set_static_hostname(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+            "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         name = empty_to_null(name);
- 
-         context_read_etc_hostname(c);
-@@ -969,6 +972,9 @@ static int set_machine_info(Context *c, sd_bus_message *m, int prop, sd_bus_mess
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+            "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         name = empty_to_null(name);
- 
-         context_read_machine_info(c);
-diff --git a/src/locale/localed.c b/src/locale/localed.c
-index 7aa47f18c2..0a8ef68931 100644
---- a/src/locale/localed.c
-+++ b/src/locale/localed.c
-@@ -309,6 +309,9 @@ static int method_set_locale(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_error *er
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+                                 "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         use_localegen = locale_gen_check_available();
- 
-         /* If single locale without variable name is provided, then we assume it is LANG=. */
-@@ -423,6 +426,9 @@ static int method_set_vc_keyboard(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_erro
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+            "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         keymap = empty_to_null(keymap);
-         keymap_toggle = empty_to_null(keymap_toggle);
- 
-@@ -602,6 +608,9 @@ static int method_set_x11_keyboard(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_err
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+            "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         layout = empty_to_null(layout);
-         model = empty_to_null(model);
-         variant = empty_to_null(variant);
-diff --git a/src/timedate/timedated.c b/src/timedate/timedated.c
-index 373574cc06..6dbf73eb42 100644
---- a/src/timedate/timedated.c
-+++ b/src/timedate/timedated.c
-@@ -665,6 +665,10 @@ static int method_set_timezone(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_error *
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        if (getenv("NIXOS_STATIC_TIMEZONE"))
-+                return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+                    "Changing timezone via systemd is not supported when it is set in NixOS configuration.");
-+
-         if (!timezone_is_valid(z, LOG_DEBUG))
-                 return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS, "Invalid or not installed time zone '%s'", z);
- 
-@@ -743,6 +747,9 @@ static int method_set_local_rtc(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_error
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+            "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         if (lrtc == c->local_rtc && !fix_system)
-                 return sd_bus_reply_method_return(m, NULL);
- 
-@@ -923,6 +930,9 @@ static int method_set_ntp(sd_bus_message *m, void *userdata, sd_bus_error *error
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
- 
-+        return sd_bus_error_setf(error, SD_BUS_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED,
-+            "Changing system settings via systemd is not supported on NixOS.");
-+
-         r = context_update_ntp_status(c, bus, m);
-         if (r < 0)
-                 return r;
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0009-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0008-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
similarity index 90%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0009-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0008-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
index cc40140b284bb..69823095a59de 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0009-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0008-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ index e486474c44..5f373d0723 100644
      <literal>Etc/UTC</literal>. The resulting link should lead to the
      corresponding binary
 diff --git a/src/basic/time-util.c b/src/basic/time-util.c
-index 71b2f67350..465f1c0b15 100644
+index b700f364ef..116b1cec63 100644
 --- a/src/basic/time-util.c
 +++ b/src/basic/time-util.c
-@@ -1280,7 +1280,7 @@ static int get_timezones_from_zone1970_tab(char ***ret) {
+@@ -1282,7 +1282,7 @@ static int get_timezones_from_zone1970_tab(char ***ret) {
  
          assert(ret);
  
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ index 71b2f67350..465f1c0b15 100644
          if (!f)
                  return -errno;
  
-@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@ static int get_timezones_from_tzdata_zi(char ***ret) {
+@@ -1321,7 +1321,7 @@ static int get_timezones_from_tzdata_zi(char ***ret) {
          _cleanup_strv_free_ char **zones = NULL;
          int r;
  
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ index 71b2f67350..465f1c0b15 100644
          if (!f)
                  return -errno;
  
-@@ -1431,7 +1431,7 @@ int verify_timezone(const char *name, int log_level) {
+@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ int verify_timezone(const char *name, int log_level) {
          if (p - name >= PATH_MAX)
                  return -ENAMETOOLONG;
  
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ index 71b2f67350..465f1c0b15 100644
  
          fd = open(t, O_RDONLY|O_CLOEXEC);
          if (fd < 0)
-@@ -1489,7 +1489,7 @@ int get_timezone(char **ret) {
+@@ -1491,7 +1491,7 @@ int get_timezone(char **ret) {
          if (r < 0)
                  return r; /* returns EINVAL if not a symlink */
  
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ index 71b2f67350..465f1c0b15 100644
                  return -EINVAL;
  
 diff --git a/src/firstboot/firstboot.c b/src/firstboot/firstboot.c
-index 065ee896cd..1b260416c8 100644
+index 9e79f84691..1a1c75718c 100644
 --- a/src/firstboot/firstboot.c
 +++ b/src/firstboot/firstboot.c
-@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ static int process_timezone(void) {
+@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ static int process_timezone(void) {
          if (isempty(arg_timezone))
                  return 0;
  
@@ -88,10 +88,10 @@ index 065ee896cd..1b260416c8 100644
          (void) mkdir_parents(etc_localtime, 0755);
          r = symlink_atomic(e, etc_localtime);
 diff --git a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
-index 86dd2cea84..4e5f03669d 100644
+index d62c5173ca..84beac064b 100644
 --- a/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
 +++ b/src/nspawn/nspawn.c
-@@ -1905,8 +1905,8 @@ int userns_mkdir(const char *root, const char *path, mode_t mode, uid_t uid, gid
+@@ -1915,8 +1915,8 @@ int userns_mkdir(const char *root, const char *path, mode_t mode, uid_t uid, gid
  static const char *timezone_from_path(const char *path) {
          return PATH_STARTSWITH_SET(
                          path,
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ index 86dd2cea84..4e5f03669d 100644
  
  static bool etc_writable(void) {
 diff --git a/src/timedate/timedated.c b/src/timedate/timedated.c
-index 6dbf73eb42..a36dd459d2 100644
+index ad483301ef..a7f22b1c86 100644
 --- a/src/timedate/timedated.c
 +++ b/src/timedate/timedated.c
 @@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ static int context_read_data(Context *c) {
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0010-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0009-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
similarity index 88%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0010-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0009-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
index 4f652d45a42c0..fac9916cf3b4d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0010-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0009-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ NixOS has an option to link the xkb data files to /etc/X11, but not to
  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/locale/localectl.c b/src/locale/localectl.c
-index c23f1fa3f6..ad2eba82ad 100644
+index fb83881cc7..c47a33134a 100644
 --- a/src/locale/localectl.c
 +++ b/src/locale/localectl.c
-@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ static int list_x11_keymaps(int argc, char **argv, void *userdata) {
+@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ static int list_x11_keymaps(int argc, char **argv, void *userdata) {
          } state = NONE, look_for;
          int r;
  
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0011-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0010-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
similarity index 89%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0011-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0010-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
index eabb80c39fa8e..01874c2be8e3d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0011-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0010-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ Subject: [PATCH] build: don't create statedir and don't touch prefixdir
  1 file changed, 3 deletions(-)
 
 diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
-index 76ad51d3fb..839dcef437 100644
+index bfc86857d6..84e3e4c1db 100644
 --- a/meson.build
 +++ b/meson.build
-@@ -4067,9 +4067,6 @@ install_data('LICENSE.GPL2',
+@@ -4277,9 +4277,6 @@ install_data('LICENSE.GPL2',
  install_subdir('LICENSES',
                 install_dir : docdir)
  
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0012-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0011-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
similarity index 85%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0012-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0011-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
index 32ee37d78fa13..6f64dce5e4b9b 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0012-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0011-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@ discovery default udev rules. By adding `$out/lib` to the lookup paths
 we should again be able to discover the udev rules amongst other default
 files that I might have missed.
 ---
- src/basic/def.h | 6 ++++--
+ src/basic/constants.h | 6 ++++--
  1 file changed, 4 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)
 
-diff --git a/src/basic/def.h b/src/basic/def.h
-index 2b4de29021..1bd61dc45f 100644
---- a/src/basic/def.h
-+++ b/src/basic/def.h
-@@ -44,13 +44,15 @@
+diff --git a/src/basic/constants.h b/src/basic/constants.h
+index 5d68cc6332..a2ccc315e1 100644
+--- a/src/basic/constants.h
++++ b/src/basic/constants.h
+@@ -73,13 +73,15 @@
          "/run/" n "\0"                          \
          "/usr/local/lib/" n "\0"                \
          "/usr/lib/" n "\0"                      \
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0013-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0012-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
similarity index 89%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0013-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0012-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
index 78d1e48f6cf7e..84ac0d882d6d0 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0013-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0012-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ This is needed for NixOS to use such scripts as systemd directory is immutable.
  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
 
 diff --git a/src/shutdown/shutdown.c b/src/shutdown/shutdown.c
-index dcee0f9006..24b03d6948 100644
+index 42111d2772..53467ac229 100644
 --- a/src/shutdown/shutdown.c
 +++ b/src/shutdown/shutdown.c
-@@ -334,6 +334,7 @@ static void init_watchdog(void) {
+@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ static void init_watchdog(void) {
  int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
          static const char* const dirs[] = {
                  SYSTEM_SHUTDOWN_PATH,
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0014-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0013-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
similarity index 94%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0014-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0013-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
index b496dde756195..99c0d93facb74 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0014-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0013-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ This is needed for NixOS to use such scripts as systemd directory is immutable.
  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
 
 diff --git a/src/sleep/sleep.c b/src/sleep/sleep.c
-index 3461d3e45f..d7d0ec2a7a 100644
+index 9c51a3367f..75d6b76a87 100644
 --- a/src/sleep/sleep.c
 +++ b/src/sleep/sleep.c
 @@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ static int execute(
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0015-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0014-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
similarity index 97%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0015-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0014-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
index 06efb13ff6f28..b3d1db340ef8c 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0015-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0014-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ systemd itself uses extensively.
  1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/basic/path-util.h b/src/basic/path-util.h
-index 22d3632e6e..1e8bbb242b 100644
+index 56f01f41d8..f9b8627388 100644
 --- a/src/basic/path-util.h
 +++ b/src/basic/path-util.h
 @@ -24,11 +24,11 @@
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0016-pkg-config-derive-prefix-from-prefix.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0015-pkg-config-derive-prefix-from-prefix.patch
similarity index 100%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0016-pkg-config-derive-prefix-from-prefix.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0015-pkg-config-derive-prefix-from-prefix.patch
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0017-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0016-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
similarity index 94%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0017-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0016-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
index eaebb623d922e..1cfd939a6392e 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0017-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0016-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ executables that are being called from managers.
  1 file changed, 8 insertions(+)
 
 diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
-index d9e7d77913..ba3ce14bf0 100644
+index 50d092042c..898f9ed2f1 100644
 --- a/src/core/manager.c
 +++ b/src/core/manager.c
-@@ -3693,9 +3693,17 @@ static int build_generator_environment(Manager *m, char ***ret) {
+@@ -3714,9 +3714,17 @@ static int build_generator_environment(Manager *m, char ***ret) {
           * adjust generated units to that. Let's pass down some bits of information that are easy for us to
           * determine (but a bit harder for generator scripts to determine), as environment variables. */
  
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0018-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0017-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
similarity index 92%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0018-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0017-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
index d40bdbde8ef1f..7a2e8dc670b00 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0018-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0017-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
@@ -17,10 +17,10 @@ See also: https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/24191
  1 file changed, 4 deletions(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/core/manager.c b/src/core/manager.c
-index ba3ce14bf0..03bf66ff74 100644
+index 898f9ed2f1..5040d5b105 100644
 --- a/src/core/manager.c
 +++ b/src/core/manager.c
-@@ -4493,10 +4493,6 @@ char* manager_taint_string(const Manager *m) {
+@@ -4543,10 +4543,6 @@ char* manager_taint_string(const Manager *m) {
          if (m->taint_usr)
                  stage[n++] = "split-usr";
  
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0019-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0018-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
similarity index 87%
rename from pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0019-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
rename to pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0018-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
index c64fdd8d34c0b..115ce78d7134d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0019-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/0018-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-From 236e9281cb158be3191c500524fbc5f397a25e03 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
 From: Nick Cao <nickcao@nichi.co>
 Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2023 20:15:55 +0800
 Subject: [PATCH] tpm2_context_init: fix driver name checking
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ filename_is_valid with path_is_valid.
  1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
 
 diff --git a/src/shared/tpm2-util.c b/src/shared/tpm2-util.c
-index ba8dfb041d..7de5d5fc77 100644
+index 259f280e0f..142e70a740 100644
 --- a/src/shared/tpm2-util.c
 +++ b/src/shared/tpm2-util.c
-@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ int tpm2_context_init(const char *device, struct tpm2_context *ret) {
+@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ int tpm2_context_new(const char *device, Tpm2Context **ret_context) {
                  fn = strjoina("libtss2-tcti-", driver, ".so.0");
  
                  /* Better safe than sorry, let's refuse strings that cannot possibly be valid driver early, before going to disk. */
@@ -38,7 +38,4 @@ index ba8dfb041d..7de5d5fc77 100644
 +                if (!path_is_valid(fn))
                          return log_error_errno(SYNTHETIC_ERRNO(EINVAL), "TPM2 driver name '%s' not valid, refusing.", driver);
  
-                 dl = dlopen(fn, RTLD_NOW);
--- 
-2.39.0
-
+                 context->tcti_dl = dlopen(fn, RTLD_NOW);
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix
index 9dda9cd2d4ae3..80d140458559d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/systemd/default.nix
@@ -133,13 +133,13 @@ assert withHomed -> withCryptsetup;
 let
   wantCurl = withRemote || withImportd;
   wantGcrypt = withResolved || withImportd;
-  version = "252.5";
+  version = "253";
 
   # Bump this variable on every (major) version change. See below (in the meson options list) for why.
   # command:
   #  $ curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/systemd/systemd/releases/latest | \
   #     jq '.created_at|strptime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")|mktime'
-  releaseTimestamp = "1667246393";
+  releaseTimestamp = "1676488940";
 in
 stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
   inherit pname version;
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     owner = "systemd";
     repo = "systemd-stable";
     rev = "v${version}";
-    hash = "sha256-cNZRTuYFMR1z6KpELeQoJahMhRl4fKuRuc3xXH3KzlM=";
+    hash = "sha256-K1h4nnDYB25URcJrS5HF4gYVDzEUCABpTxlEt7JKKa4=";
   };
 
   # On major changes, or when otherwise required, you *must* reformat the patches,
@@ -165,19 +165,18 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     ./0004-Look-for-fsck-in-the-right-place.patch
     ./0005-Add-some-NixOS-specific-unit-directories.patch
     ./0006-Get-rid-of-a-useless-message-in-user-sessions.patch
-    ./0007-hostnamed-localed-timedated-disable-methods-that-cha.patch
-    ./0008-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
-    ./0009-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
-    ./0010-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
-    ./0011-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
-    ./0012-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
-    ./0013-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
-    ./0014-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
-    ./0015-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
-    ./0016-pkg-config-derive-prefix-from-prefix.patch
-    ./0017-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
-    ./0018-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
-    ./0019-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
+    ./0007-Fix-hwdb-paths.patch
+    ./0008-Change-usr-share-zoneinfo-to-etc-zoneinfo.patch
+    ./0009-localectl-use-etc-X11-xkb-for-list-x11.patch
+    ./0010-build-don-t-create-statedir-and-don-t-touch-prefixdi.patch
+    ./0011-add-rootprefix-to-lookup-dir-paths.patch
+    ./0012-systemd-shutdown-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-syst.patch
+    ./0013-systemd-sleep-execute-scripts-in-etc-systemd-system-.patch
+    ./0014-path-util.h-add-placeholder-for-DEFAULT_PATH_NORMAL.patch
+    ./0015-pkg-config-derive-prefix-from-prefix.patch
+    ./0016-inherit-systemd-environment-when-calling-generators.patch
+    ./0017-core-don-t-taint-on-unmerged-usr.patch
+    ./0018-tpm2_context_init-fix-driver-name-checking.patch
   ] ++ lib.optional stdenv.hostPlatform.isMusl (
     let
       oe-core = fetchzip {
@@ -295,6 +294,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
           # inspect-elf support
           { name = "libelf.so.1"; pkg = opt withCoredump elfutils; }
           { name = "libdw.so.1"; pkg = opt withCoredump elfutils; }
+
+          # Support for PKCS#11 in systemd-cryptsetup, systemd-cryptenroll and systemd-homed
+          { name = "libp11-kit.so.0"; pkg = opt (withHomed || withCryptsetup) p11-kit; }
         ];
 
       patchDlOpen = dl:
@@ -402,7 +404,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation (finalAttrs: {
     ++ lib.optional withPCRE2 pcre2
     ++ lib.optional withSelinux libselinux
     ++ lib.optional withRemote libmicrohttpd
-    ++ lib.optionals withHomed [ p11-kit ]
+    ++ lib.optionals (withHomed || withCryptsetup) [ p11-kit ]
     ++ lib.optionals (withHomed || withCryptsetup) [ libfido2 ]
     ++ lib.optionals withLibBPF [ libbpf ]
     ++ lib.optional withTpm2Tss tpm2-tss