diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix
index d88f88f9fdaf..159dd33457e2 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/networkd.nix
@@ -3165,7 +3165,7 @@ let
 
     (mkIf cfg.enable {
 
-      systemd.package = pkgs.systemdStage1Network;
+      systemd.package = mkDefault pkgs.systemdStage1Network;
 
       # For networkctl
       systemd.dbus.enable = mkDefault true;