diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix b/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
index 4a16a676293..dcf105eb784 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ in
         ${pkgs.e2fsprogs}/bin/chattr -f -i /var/empty || true
         find /var/empty -mindepth 1 -delete
         chmod 0555 /var/empty
+        chown root:root /var/empty
         ${pkgs.e2fsprogs}/bin/chattr -f +i /var/empty || true
       '';