diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix
index 2a528b036404..b58cdd8ac5f7 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@ in
             + "${guest.address}:${toString guest.port},"
           else
             "'guestfwd=${proto}:${guest.address}:${toString guest.port}-"
-            + "cmd:${pkgs.netcat}/bin/nc ${host.address} ${toString host.port}',"
+            + "cmd:${hostPkgs.netcat}/bin/nc ${host.address} ${toString host.port}',"
         );
         restrictNetworkOption = lib.optionalString cfg.restrictNetwork "restrict=on,";
       in