diff --git a/pkgs/pkgs-lib/formats.nix b/pkgs/pkgs-lib/formats.nix
index 4b6982f387d0..4d5395664612 100644
--- a/pkgs/pkgs-lib/formats.nix
+++ b/pkgs/pkgs-lib/formats.nix
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ rec {
         int
         float
         str
+        path
         (attrsOf valueType)
         (listOf valueType)
       ]) // {
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ rec {
         int
         float
         str
+        path
         (attrsOf valueType)
         (listOf valueType)
       ] // {
diff --git a/pkgs/pkgs-lib/tests/formats.nix b/pkgs/pkgs-lib/tests/formats.nix
index 2c117e29e9ba..679fde015228 100644
--- a/pkgs/pkgs-lib/tests/formats.nix
+++ b/pkgs/pkgs-lib/tests/formats.nix
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ in runBuildTests {
       str = "foo";
       attrs.foo = null;
       list = [ null null ];
+      path = ./formats.nix;
     };
     expected = ''
       {
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ in runBuildTests {
           null
         ],
         "null": null,
+        "path": "${./formats.nix}",
         "str": "foo",
         "true": true
       }
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@ in runBuildTests {
       str = "foo";
       attrs.foo = null;
       list = [ null null ];
+      path = ./formats.nix;
     };
     expected = ''
       {
@@ -80,6 +83,7 @@ in runBuildTests {
           null
         ],
         "null": null,
+        "path": "${./formats.nix}",
         "str": "foo",
         "true": true
       }