diff --git a/lenovo/thinkpad/t495/default.nix b/lenovo/thinkpad/t495/default.nix
index 51ddb5c..64957e6 100644
--- a/lenovo/thinkpad/t495/default.nix
+++ b/lenovo/thinkpad/t495/default.nix
@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@
   imports = [
     ../.
     ../../../common/cpu/amd
+    ../../../common/pc/laptop/acpi_call.nix
   ];
 
+  # Force use of the thinkpad_acpi driver for backlight control.
+  # This allows the backlight save/load systemd service to work.
+  boot.kernelParams = [ "acpi_backlight=native" ];
+
   # see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/69289
   boot.kernelPackages = lib.mkIf (lib.versionOlder pkgs.linux.version "5.2") pkgs.linuxPackages_latest;
 }