diff --git a/tmpfiles.d/x11.conf b/tmpfiles.d/x11.conf
index b45c8eec25..e83229590a 100644
--- a/tmpfiles.d/x11.conf
+++ b/tmpfiles.d/x11.conf
@@ -14,5 +14,6 @@ D /tmp/.ICE-unix 1777 root root 1h
 D /tmp/.XIM-unix 1777 root root 1h
 D /tmp/.font-unix 1777 root root 1h
 
-# Unlink the X11 lock files
+# Unlink the X11 lock files at boot, but exclude them from time-based cleanup later
 r! /tmp/.X[0-9]*-lock
+x /tmp/.X[0-9]*-lock