diff --git a/modules/installer/tools/nixos-rebuild.sh b/modules/installer/tools/nixos-rebuild.sh
index 98b46cb7cdb0..22aa847e192e 100644
--- a/modules/installer/tools/nixos-rebuild.sh
+++ b/modules/installer/tools/nixos-rebuild.sh
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ if [ -n "$pullManifest" -o "$action" = pull ]; then
         | grep '<string'  | sed 's^.*"\(.*\)".*^\1^g')
 
     set -o nopipefail
-    [ "$action" = pull -a $? -ne 0 ] && exit 1
+    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then exit 1; fi
 
     mkdir -p /nix/var/nix/channel-cache
     for i in $manifests; do