diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/networking/dnsmasq.nix b/nixos/modules/services/networking/dnsmasq.nix
index fcfe21101839..877705641cf1 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/networking/dnsmasq.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/networking/dnsmasq.nix
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ in
         touch ${stateDir}/dnsmasq.leases
         chown -R dnsmasq ${stateDir}
         ${lib.optionalString cfg.resolveLocalQueries "touch /etc/dnsmasq-{conf,resolv}.conf"}
-        dnsmasq --test
+        dnsmasq --test -C ${cfg.configFile}
       '';
       serviceConfig = {
         Type = "dbus";