diff --git a/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-config.nix b/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-config.nix
deleted file mode 100644
index 72dea0bc222..00000000000
--- a/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-config.nix
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-{ config, pkgs, modulesPath, ... }:
-
-{
-  require = [ "${modulesPath}/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix" ];
-}
diff --git a/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix b/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix
index 32aa2080621..77177f7a46c 100644
--- a/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix
+++ b/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix
@@ -56,12 +56,8 @@ with pkgs.lib;
               -p /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --set ${config.system.build.toplevel}
 
           # `nixos-rebuild' requires an /etc/NIXOS.
-          mkdir -p /mnt/etc
-          touch /mnt/etc/NIXOS
-
-          # Install a configuration.nix.
           mkdir -p /mnt/etc/nixos
-          cp ${./virtualbox-config.nix} /mnt/etc/nixos/configuration.nix
+          touch /mnt/etc/NIXOS
 
           # `switch-to-configuration' requires a /bin/sh
           mkdir -p /mnt/bin