diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
index cb7423f293a..7063017b3a8 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ with stdenv.lib;
   X86_MCE y
 
   # Linux containers.
+  NAMESPACES? y #  Required by 'unshare' used by 'nixos-install'
   RT_GROUP_SCHED? y
   CGROUP_DEVICE? y
   ${if versionAtLeast version "3.6" then ''