diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/backup/znapzend.nix b/nixos/modules/services/backup/znapzend.nix
index 98cd647f61a..134966a5a35 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/backup/znapzend.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/backup/znapzend.nix
@@ -268,7 +268,8 @@ let
 
   mkSrcAttrs = srcCfg: with srcCfg; {
     enabled = onOff enable;
-    mbuffer = with mbuffer; if enable then "${pkgs.mbuffer}/bin/mbuffer"
+    # mbuffer is not referenced by its full path to accomodate non-NixOS systems or differing mbuffer versions between source and target
+    mbuffer = with mbuffer; if enable then "mbuffer"
         + optionalString (port != null) ":${toString port}" else "off";
     mbuffer_size = mbuffer.size;
     post_znap_cmd = nullOff postsnap;