diff --git a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/open-vm-tools/default.nix b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/open-vm-tools/default.nix
index bc280823a3ce..c7f8ea696b57 100644
--- a/pkgs/applications/virtualization/open-vm-tools/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/applications/virtualization/open-vm-tools/default.nix
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
 
      # Avoid a glibc >= 2.25 deprecation warning that gets fatal via -Werror.
      sed 1i'#include <sys/sysmacros.h>' -i lib/wiper/wiperPosix.c
+
+     # Make reboot work, shutdown is not in /sbin on NixOS
+     sed -i 's,/sbin/shutdown,shutdown,' lib/system/systemLinux.c
   '';
 
   configureFlags = [ "--without-kernel-modules" "--without-xmlsecurity" ]