diff --git a/nixos/modules/image/repart-image.nix b/nixos/modules/image/repart-image.nix
index cc4c2211e3d3..bbcf4815aced 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/image/repart-image.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/image/repart-image.nix
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@ in
   ) // {
   __structuredAttrs = true;
 
+
+  # the image will be self-contained so we can drop references
+  # to the closure that was used to build it
+  unsafeDiscardReferences.out = true;
+
   nativeBuildInputs = [
     systemd
     fakeroot
diff --git a/nixos/modules/image/repart-verity-store.nix b/nixos/modules/image/repart-verity-store.nix
index e8706a5f79d0..d270dc069f34 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/image/repart-verity-store.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/image/repart-verity-store.nix
@@ -117,10 +117,6 @@ in
 
               # do not prepare the ESP, this is done in the final image
               systemdRepartFlags = previousAttrs.systemdRepartFlags ++ [ "--defer-partitions=esp" ];
-
-              # the image will be self-contained so we can drop references
-              # to the closure that was used to build it
-              unsafeDiscardReferences.out = true;
             }
           );
 
@@ -210,10 +206,6 @@ in
 
                 rm -v repart-output_orig.json
               '';
-
-              # the image will be self-contained so we can drop references
-              # to the closure that was used to build it
-              unsafeDiscardReferences.out = true;
             }
           );
     };