diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix b/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
index 60298362d76..4c3d30e346c 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/activation/activation-script.nix
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ in
         # Empty, immutable home directory of many system accounts.
         mkdir -p /var/empty
         # Make sure it's really empty
-        ${pkgs.e2fsprogs}/bin/chattr -i /var/empty
+        ${pkgs.e2fsprogs}/bin/chattr -f -i /var/empty || true
         find /var/empty -mindepth 1 -delete
         chmod 0555 /var/empty
-        ${pkgs.e2fsprogs}/bin/chattr +i /var/empty
+        ${pkgs.e2fsprogs}/bin/chattr -f +i /var/empty || true
       '';
 
     system.activationScripts.usrbinenv = if config.environment.usrbinenv != null