diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc-activation.nix b/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc-activation.nix
index aed58af780b7..47c65590e0c4 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc-activation.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc-activation.nix
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@
           message = "`!system.etc.overlay.mutable` requires `systemd.sysusers.enable` or `services.userborn.enable`";
         }
         {
-          assertion = lib.versionAtLeast config.boot.kernelPackages.kernel.version "6.6";
-          message = "`system.etc.overlay.enable requires a newer kernel, at least version 6.6";
+          assertion =
+            (config.system.switch.enable)
+            -> (lib.versionAtLeast config.boot.kernelPackages.kernel.version "6.6");
+          message = "switchable systems with `system.etc.overlay.enable` require a newer kernel, at least version 6.6";
         }
       ];