diff --git a/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix b/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
index e3f0ec6f1d9..ad9b5da2316 100644
--- a/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
+++ b/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
@@ -205,14 +205,12 @@ rec {
   mountOptions = unitOptions // {
 
     what = mkOption {
-      default = "";
       example = "/dev/sda1";
       type = types.uniq types.string;
       description = "Absolute path of device node, file or other resource. (Mandatory)";
     };
 
     where = mkOption {
-      default = "";
       example = "/mnt";
       type = types.uniq types.string;
       description = ''
diff --git a/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix b/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
index f0e94266b17..f4d0655118e 100644
--- a/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
+++ b/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
@@ -292,8 +292,6 @@ let
     };
 
   mountToUnit = name: def:
-    assert def.mountConfig.What != "";
-    assert def.mountConfig.Where != "";
     { inherit (def) wantedBy enable;
       text =
         ''