diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/services.py b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/services.py
index 8a170a138326..4de74aa9c4d4 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/services.py
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/services.py
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ def build_and_activate_system(
     if args.diff:
         if current_config.exists():
             nix.diff_closures(
-                current_config=current_config.readlink(),
+                current_config=current_config,
                 new_config=path_to_config,
                 target_host=target_host,
             )