diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containers.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containers.nix
index dc65e494054..13ecb8e25ed 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containers.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/containers.nix
@@ -309,6 +309,10 @@ in
             touch "$root/etc/os-release"
           fi
 
+          if ! [ -e "$root/etc/machine-id" ]; then
+            touch "$root/etc/machine-id"
+          fi
+
           mkdir -p -m 0755 \
             "/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-container/$INSTANCE" \
             "/nix/var/nix/gcroots/per-container/$INSTANCE"