diff --git a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
index d83c6d350e2..6f215cf3b5c 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/qemu/default.nix
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
       "--enable-docs"
       "--enable-tools"
       "--enable-guest-agent"
+      "--sysconfdir=/etc"
     ]
     # disable sysctl check on darwin.
     ++ optional stdenv.isDarwin "--cpu=x86_64"