diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/nginx/default.nix b/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/nginx/default.nix
index 100fabf902f..dee877f1c11 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/nginx/default.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/web-servers/nginx/default.nix
@@ -578,6 +578,7 @@ in
         mkdir -p ${cfg.stateDir}/logs
         chmod 700 ${cfg.stateDir}
         chown -R ${cfg.user}:${cfg.group} ${cfg.stateDir}
+        ${cfg.package}/bin/nginx -c ${configFile} -p ${cfg.stateDir} -t
         '';
       serviceConfig = {
         ExecStart = "${cfg.package}/bin/nginx -c ${configFile} -p ${cfg.stateDir}";