diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/neovim.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/neovim.nix
index ce549b14ef7a..f1e3cfd4ea49 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/neovim.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/neovim.nix
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ in
     environment.systemPackages = [
       cfg.finalPackage
     ];
-    environment.variables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (lib.mkOverride 900 "nvim");
+    environment.sessionVariables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (lib.mkOverride 900 "nvim");
     # On most NixOS configurations /share is already included, so it includes
     # this directory as well. But  This makes sure that /share/nvim/site paths
     # from other packages will be used by neovim.
diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/vim.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/vim.nix
index 6a6cd0a90966..0f27082b8614 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/vim.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/vim.nix
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ in
     ];
     environment = {
       systemPackages = [ cfg.package ];
-      variables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (lib.mkOverride 900 "vim");
+      sessionVariables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (lib.mkOverride 900 "vim");
       pathsToLink = [ "/share/vim-plugins" ];
     };
   };
diff --git a/nixos/modules/programs/vscode.nix b/nixos/modules/programs/vscode.nix
index f7d427eba14e..a20b6b055b10 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/programs/vscode.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/programs/vscode.nix
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ in
       cfg.finalPackage
     ];
 
-    environment.variables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (
+    environment.sessionVariables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (
       lib.mkOverride 900 cfg.finalPackage.meta.mainProgram
     );
 
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/editors/emacs.nix b/nixos/modules/services/editors/emacs.nix
index ff69a22f5447..2cf753484a80 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/editors/emacs.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/editors/emacs.nix
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ in
       editorScript
     ];
 
-    environment.variables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (lib.mkOverride 900 "emacseditor");
+    environment.sessionVariables.EDITOR = lib.mkIf cfg.defaultEditor (lib.mkOverride 900 "emacseditor");
   };
 
   meta.doc = ./emacs.md;