diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
index 2051368a49f6..3ac165f95c75 100755
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
@@ -791,7 +791,13 @@ if [[ "$action" = switch || "$action" = boot || "$action" = test || "$action" =
     else
         cmd+=("$pathToConfig/specialisation/$specialisation/bin/switch-to-configuration")
 
-        if [[ ! -f "${cmd[-1]}" ]]; then
+        if [ -z "$targetHost" ]; then
+            specialisationExists=$(test -f "${cmd[-1]}")
+        else
+            specialisationExists=$(targetHostCmd test -f "${cmd[-1]}")
+        fi
+
+        if ! $specialisationExists; then
             log "error: specialisation not found: $specialisation"
             exit 1
         fi