diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/nixos-rebuild.8.scd b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/nixos-rebuild.8.scd
index 7ec6def5ca21..84382292ce7c 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/nixos-rebuild.8.scd
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/nixos-rebuild.8.scd
@@ -379,6 +379,10 @@ NIX_SSHOPTS
 NIX_SUDOOPTS
 	Additional options to be passed to sudo on the command line.
 
+NIXOS_REBUILD_NO_SYSTEMD_RUN
+	If set, then *nixos-rebuild* will run without the
+	_systemd-run_ wrapper.
+
 # FILES
 
 /etc/nixos/system.nix
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/nix.py b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/nix.py
index c9d79868f8f4..4fbe7fbe2b9d 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/nix.py
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/nixos_rebuild/nix.py
@@ -708,6 +708,8 @@ def switch_to_configuration(
             "not working in target host"
         )
         cmd = []
+    elif os.environ.get("NIXOS_REBUILD_NO_SYSTEMD_RUN"):
+        cmd = []
 
     run_wrapper(
         [*cmd, path_to_config / "bin/switch-to-configuration", str(action)],
diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/tests/test_nix.py b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/tests/test_nix.py
index 8100f396cdb7..1cdccc9a874e 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/tests/test_nix.py
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/ni/nixos-rebuild-ng/src/tests/test_nix.py
@@ -819,6 +819,38 @@ def test_switch_to_configuration_without_systemd_run(
     )
 
 
+@patch(get_qualified_name(n.run_wrapper, n), autospec=True)
+def test_switch_to_configuration_without_systemd_run_env_var(
+    mock_run: Any, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    profile_path = Path("/path/to/profile")
+    mock_run.return_value = CompletedProcess([], 0)
+
+    with monkeypatch.context() as mp:
+        mp.setenv("LOCALE_ARCHIVE", "")
+        mp.setenv("NIXOS_REBUILD_NO_SYSTEMD_RUN", "1")
+
+        n.switch_to_configuration(
+            profile_path,
+            m.Action.SWITCH,
+            elevate=e.NO_ELEVATOR,
+            target_host=None,
+            specialisation=None,
+            install_bootloader=False,
+        )
+    mock_run.assert_called_with(
+        [profile_path / "bin/switch-to-configuration", "switch"],
+        env={
+            "LOCALE_ARCHIVE": e.PRESERVE_ENV,
+            "NIXOS_NO_CHECK": e.PRESERVE_ENV,
+            "NIXOS_INSTALL_BOOTLOADER": "0",
+        },
+        elevate=e.NO_ELEVATOR,
+        remote=None,
+        stdout=sys.stderr,
+    )
+
+
 @patch(get_qualified_name(n.run_wrapper, n), autospec=True)
 def test_switch_to_configuration_with_systemd_run(
     mock_run: Mock, monkeypatch: MonkeyPatch