diff --git a/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix b/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
index aecb65b8c576..ec837b432ce4 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
@@ -30,6 +30,12 @@ with lib;
   # Add Memtest86+ to the CD.
   boot.loader.grub.memtest86.enable = true;
 
+  # On a fresh machine, before formatting, an installation
+  # media cannot assume an existing file system layout such
+  # as might be defined by the encapsulated host config.
+  swapDevices = mkOverride 60 [ ];
+  fileSystems = mkOverride 60 config.lib.isoFileSystems;
+
   boot.postBootCommands = ''
     for o in $(</proc/cmdline); do
       case "$o" in
diff --git a/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/iso-image.nix b/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/iso-image.nix
index f03845132476..1f59e8cb34dd 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/iso-image.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/installer/cd-dvd/iso-image.nix
@@ -614,6 +614,58 @@ in
     };
 
   };
+  # store them in lib so we can set the same fileSystems with a
+  # higher prio on installation media
+  # This module is often over-layed onto an existing host config
+  # that defines `fileSystems`. We use mkOverride 60 to override
+  # standard values, but at the same time leave room for mkForce
+  # values targeted at the image build.
+  config.lib.isoFileSystems = {
+    "/" = mkOverride 60
+      {
+        fsType = "tmpfs";
+        options = [ "mode=0755" ];
+      };
+
+    # Note that /dev/root is a symlink to the actual root device
+    # specified on the kernel command line, created in the stage 1
+    # init script.
+    "/iso" = mkOverride 60
+      { device = "/dev/root";
+        neededForBoot = true;
+        noCheck = true;
+      };
+
+    # In stage 1, mount a tmpfs on top of /nix/store (the squashfs
+    # image) to make this a live CD.
+    "/nix/.ro-store" = mkOverride 60
+      { fsType = "squashfs";
+        device = "/iso/nix-store.squashfs";
+        options = [ "loop" ];
+        neededForBoot = true;
+      };
+
+    "/nix/.rw-store" = mkOverride 60
+      { fsType = "tmpfs";
+        options = [ "mode=0755" ];
+        neededForBoot = true;
+      };
+
+    "/nix/store" = mkOverride 60
+      { fsType = "overlay";
+        device = "overlay";
+        options = [
+          "lowerdir=/nix/.ro-store"
+          "upperdir=/nix/.rw-store/store"
+          "workdir=/nix/.rw-store/work"
+        ];
+        depends = [
+          "/nix/.ro-store"
+          "/nix/.rw-store/store"
+          "/nix/.rw-store/work"
+        ];
+      };
+  };
 
   config = {
     assertions = [
@@ -653,54 +705,7 @@ in
         "boot.shell_on_fail"
       ];
 
-    fileSystems."/" =
-      # This module is often over-layed onto an existing host config
-      # that defines `/`. We use mkOverride 60 to override standard
-      # values, but at the same time leave room for mkForce values
-      # targeted at the image build.
-      { fsType = mkOverride 60 "tmpfs";
-        options = [ "mode=0755" ];
-      };
-
-    # Note that /dev/root is a symlink to the actual root device
-    # specified on the kernel command line, created in the stage 1
-    # init script.
-    fileSystems."/iso" =
-      { device = "/dev/root";
-        neededForBoot = true;
-        noCheck = true;
-      };
-
-    # In stage 1, mount a tmpfs on top of /nix/store (the squashfs
-    # image) to make this a live CD.
-    fileSystems."/nix/.ro-store" =
-      { fsType = "squashfs";
-        device = "/iso/nix-store.squashfs";
-        options = [ "loop" ];
-        neededForBoot = true;
-      };
-
-    fileSystems."/nix/.rw-store" =
-      { fsType = "tmpfs";
-        options = [ "mode=0755" ];
-        neededForBoot = true;
-      };
-
-    fileSystems."/nix/store" =
-      { fsType = "overlay";
-        device = "overlay";
-        options = [
-          "lowerdir=/nix/.ro-store"
-          "upperdir=/nix/.rw-store/store"
-          "workdir=/nix/.rw-store/work"
-        ];
-
-        depends = [
-          "/nix/.ro-store"
-          "/nix/.rw-store/store"
-          "/nix/.rw-store/work"
-        ];
-      };
+    fileSystems = config.lib.isoFileSystems;
 
     boot.initrd.availableKernelModules = [ "squashfs" "iso9660" "uas" "overlay" ];
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/installer/netboot/netboot.nix b/nixos/modules/installer/netboot/netboot.nix
index f7543fdf4a23..adcaf9d1a335 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/installer/netboot/netboot.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/installer/netboot/netboot.nix
@@ -29,31 +29,31 @@ with lib;
           then []
           else [ pkgs.grub2 pkgs.syslinux ]);
 
-    fileSystems."/" =
-      # This module is often over-layed onto an existing host config
-      # that defines `/`. We use mkOverride 60 to override standard
-      # values, but at the same time leave room for mkForce values
-      # targeted at the image build.
-      { fsType = mkOverride 60 "tmpfs";
+    # This module is often over-layed onto an existing host config
+    # that defines `fileSystems`. We use mkOverride 60 to override
+    # standard values, but at the same time leave room for mkForce
+    # values targeted at the image build.
+    fileSystems."/" = mkOverride 60
+      { fsType = "tmpfs";
         options = [ "mode=0755" ];
       };
 
     # In stage 1, mount a tmpfs on top of /nix/store (the squashfs
     # image) to make this a live CD.
-    fileSystems."/nix/.ro-store" =
+    fileSystems."/nix/.ro-store" = mkOverride 60
       { fsType = "squashfs";
         device = "../nix-store.squashfs";
         options = [ "loop" ];
         neededForBoot = true;
       };
 
-    fileSystems."/nix/.rw-store" =
+    fileSystems."/nix/.rw-store" = mkOverride 60
       { fsType = "tmpfs";
         options = [ "mode=0755" ];
         neededForBoot = true;
       };
 
-    fileSystems."/nix/store" =
+    fileSystems."/nix/store" = mkOverride 60
       { fsType = "overlay";
         device = "overlay";
         options = [