diff --git a/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix b/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
index e99b50a0309..7246271c7b2 100644
--- a/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
+++ b/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ let
       config.boot.kernelParams ++ config.boot.extraKernelParams;
     installBootLoader =
       config.system.build.installBootLoader
-      or "echo \"Warning: don't know how to make this configuration bootable; please enable a boot loader.\" 1>&2; true";
+      or "echo 'Warning: do not know how to make this configuration bootable; please enable a boot loader.' 1>&2; true";
     activationScript = config.system.activationScripts.script;
     nixosVersion = config.system.nixosVersion;