diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/i18n.nix b/nixos/modules/config/i18n.nix
index d3f24e280c7..f2aacf9b292 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/i18n.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/i18n.nix
@@ -74,14 +74,17 @@ in
 
   config = {
 
-    environment.systemPackages = [ glibcLocales ];
+    environment.systemPackages =
+      optional (config.i18n.supportedLocales != []) glibcLocales;
 
     environment.sessionVariables =
       { LANG = config.i18n.defaultLocale;
         LOCALE_ARCHIVE = "/run/current-system/sw/lib/locale/locale-archive";
       };
 
-    systemd.globalEnvironment.LOCALE_ARCHIVE = "${glibcLocales}/lib/locale/locale-archive";
+    systemd.globalEnvironment = mkIf (config.i18n.supportedLocales != []) {
+      LOCALE_ARCHIVE = "${glibcLocales}/lib/locale/locale-archive";
+    };
 
     # ‘/etc/locale.conf’ is used by systemd.
     environment.etc = singleton
diff --git a/nixos/modules/profiles/minimal.nix b/nixos/modules/profiles/minimal.nix
index 5067622aaf1..69729923e03 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/profiles/minimal.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/profiles/minimal.nix
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 
 { config, lib, pkgs, ... }:
 
+with lib;
+
 {
-  environment.noXlibs = true;
+  environment.noXlibs = mkDefault true;
+  i18n.supportedLocales = [ config.i18n.defaultLocale ];
 }