diff --git a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
index a3e83e3074f7..f595a6307f07 100644
--- a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
+++ b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ in
 
 {
   require =
-    [ ./iso-image.nix
+    [ ./memtest.nix
+      ./iso-image.nix
 
       # Profiles of this basic installation CD.
       ../../profiles/all-hardware.nix
@@ -66,8 +67,6 @@ in
      echo 1 > /proc/sys/vm/overcommit_memory
     '';
 
-  boot.loader.grub.memtest86 = true;
-
   # To speed up installation a little bit, include the complete stdenv
   # in the Nix store on the CD.
   isoImage.storeContents = [ pkgs.stdenv pkgs.klibc pkgs.klibcShrunk ];
diff --git a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/memtest.nix b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/memtest.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..52b3d8af7c1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/memtest.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# This module adds Memtest86 to the Grub boot menu on the CD.
+
+{config, pkgs, ...}:
+
+let
+
+  memtestPath = "/boot/memtest.bin";
+
+in
+
+{
+  boot.loader.grub.extraEntries =
+    ''
+      menuentry "Memtest86" {
+        linux16 ${memtestPath}
+      }
+    '';
+
+  isoImage.contents =
+    [ { source = pkgs.memtest86 + "/memtest.bin";
+        target = memtestPath;
+      }
+    ];
+}