diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/activation/switch-to-configuration.pl b/nixos/modules/system/activation/switch-to-configuration.pl
index ca7932a3c5c..88e7847cf8c 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/activation/switch-to-configuration.pl
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/activation/switch-to-configuration.pl
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ if ($action eq "switch" || $action eq "boot") {
 }
 
 # Just in case the new configuration hangs the system, do a sync now.
-system("@coreutils@/bin/sync") unless ($ENV{"NIXOS_NO_SYNC"} // "") eq "1";
+system("@coreutils@/bin/sync", "-f", "/nix/store") unless ($ENV{"NIXOS_NO_SYNC"} // "") eq "1";
 
 exit 0 if $action eq "boot";