diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix b/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
index 875e2d5410b3..9d33c4a79708 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
@@ -283,8 +283,8 @@ in
       };
 
       cutoffPackages = mkOption {
-        default = [ config.system.build.initialRamdisk ];
-        defaultText = literalExpression "[ config.system.build.initialRamdisk ]";
+        default = lib.optionals config.boot.initrd.enable [ config.system.build.initialRamdisk ];
+        defaultText = literalExpression "lib.optionals config.boot.initrd.enable [ config.system.build.initialRamdisk ]";
         type = types.listOf types.package;
         description = ''
           Packages to which no replacements should be applied.