diff --git a/modules/ui/vc-gutter/config.el b/modules/ui/vc-gutter/config.el
index 2be8761c5..4dcc1f2a3 100644
--- a/modules/ui/vc-gutter/config.el
+++ b/modules/ui/vc-gutter/config.el
@@ -60,11 +60,19 @@
 ;;; diff-hl
 
 (use-package! diff-hl
-  :hook (dired-mode   . diff-hl-dired-mode)
   :hook (doom-first-file . global-diff-hl-mode)
   :hook (vc-dir-mode . turn-on-diff-hl-mode)
   :hook (diff-hl-mode . diff-hl-flydiff-mode)
   :commands diff-hl-stage-current-hunk diff-hl-revert-hunk diff-hl-next-hunk diff-hl-previous-hunk
+  :init
+  (add-hook! 'dired-mode-hook
+    (defun +vc-gutter-enable-maybe-h ()
+      "Conditionally enable `diff-hl-dired-mode' in dired buffers.
+Respects `diff-hl-disable-on-remote'."
+      (unless (and diff-hl-disable-on-remote
+                   (file-remote-p default-directory))
+        (diff-hl-dired-mode +1))))
+
   :config
   (set-popup-rule! "^\\*diff-hl" :select nil :size '+popup-shrink-to-fit)