diff --git a/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-option.sh b/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-option.sh
index 5141f3cd51cf..3f1e591b97b0 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-option.sh
+++ b/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-option.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ verbose=false
 nixPath=""
 
 option=""
+exit_code=0
 
 argfun=""
 for arg; do
@@ -74,8 +75,13 @@ fi
 #############################
 
 evalNix(){
+  # disable `-e` flag, it's possible that the evaluation of `nix-instantiate` fails (e.g. due to broken pkgs)
+  set +e
   result=$(nix-instantiate ${nixPath:+$nixPath} - --eval-only "$@" 2>&1)
-  if test $? -eq 0; then
+  exit_code=$?
+  set -e
+
+  if test $exit_code -eq 0; then
       cat <<EOF
 $result
 EOF
@@ -87,7 +93,7 @@ EOF
 ' <<EOF
 $result
 EOF
-      return 1;
+    exit_code=1
   fi
 }
 
@@ -317,3 +323,5 @@ else
     echo $result
   fi
 fi
+
+exit $exit_code