diff --git a/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix b/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
index 2893ef076ea..871172f3039 100644
--- a/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
+++ b/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ let
     };
 
     system.copySystemConfiguration = pkgs.lib.mkOption {
-      default = true;
+      default = false;
       description = ''
         Unless set to false copies the nixos configuration file
         <literal>$NIXOS_CONFIG</literal> defaulting to