diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
index 03b2dbfbeb66..57a647e0fa58 100755
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
@@ -181,10 +181,6 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
     esac
 done
 
-if [[ -n "$SUDO_USER" ]]; then
-    useSudo=1
-fi
-
 # log the given argument to stderr if verbose mode is on
 logVerbose() {
     if [ -n "$verboseScript" ]; then