diff --git a/pkgs/tools/backup/borgmatic/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/backup/borgmatic/default.nix
index dcc4caaa6362..db6191b4aeb7 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/backup/borgmatic/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/backup/borgmatic/default.nix
@@ -34,11 +34,13 @@ python3Packages.buildPythonApplication rec {
 
     mkdir -p $out/lib/systemd/system
     cp sample/systemd/borgmatic.timer $out/lib/systemd/system/
+    # there is another "sleep", so choose the one with the space after it
+    # due to https://github.com/borgmatic-collective/borgmatic/commit/2e9f70d49647d47fb4ca05f428c592b0e4319544
     substitute sample/systemd/borgmatic.service \
                $out/lib/systemd/system/borgmatic.service \
                --replace /root/.local/bin/borgmatic $out/bin/borgmatic \
                --replace systemd-inhibit ${systemd}/bin/systemd-inhibit \
-               --replace sleep ${coreutils}/bin/sleep
+               --replace "sleep " "${coreutils}/bin/sleep "
   '';
 
   passthru.tests.version = testers.testVersion { package = borgmatic; };