diff --git a/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh b/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh
index a7333fbd541..b685da6a083 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh
+++ b/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ chroot $mountPoint /nix/var/nix/profiles/system/activate
 
 
 # Ask the user to set a root password.
-if [ -t 0 ] ; then
+if [ "$(chroot $mountPoint nix-instantiate --eval '<nixos>' -A config.users.mutableUsers)" = true ] && [ -t 0 ] ; then
     echo "setting root password..."
     chroot $mountPoint /var/setuid-wrappers/passwd
 fi