diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix b/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
index 195ad31b1e56..140d453589b8 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ in
 
       apply = set: {
         script = ''
-          unset PATH
+          export PATH=
           for i in ${toString path}; do
             PATH=$PATH:$i/bin:$i/sbin
           done