diff --git a/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh b/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
index 5bee0380003..ccfa1d0784c 100644
--- a/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
+++ b/modules/system/boot/stage-2-init.sh
@@ -160,10 +160,6 @@ ln -sfn "$systemConfig" /var/run/booted-system
 ln -sfn /var/run/booted-system /nix/var/nix/gcroots/booted-system
 
 
-# Ensure that the module tools can find the kernel modules.
-export MODULE_DIR=@kernel@/lib/modules/
-
-
 # Run any user-specified commands.
 @shell@ @postBootCommands@
 
diff --git a/modules/system/boot/stage-2.nix b/modules/system/boot/stage-2.nix
index 35b1aead1b0..906f5e69188 100644
--- a/modules/system/boot/stage-2.nix
+++ b/modules/system/boot/stage-2.nix
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ let
     src = ./stage-2-init.sh;
     shellDebug = "${pkgs.bashInteractive}/bin/bash";
     isExecutable = true;
-    inherit kernel;
     inherit (config.boot) devShmSize runSize;
     ttyGid = config.ids.gids.tty;
     upstart = config.system.build.upstart;