diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix
index f58b68cb3353..8688b5ad9bfb 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix
@@ -251,7 +251,8 @@ let
     postInstall = ''
       echo checking syntax
       # check both with bash
-      ${pkgs.bash}/bin/sh -n $target
+      ${pkgs.buildPackages.bash}/bin/sh -n $target
+    '' + optionalString (pkgs.stdenv.hostPlatform == pkgs.stdenv.buildPlatform) ''
       # and with ash shell, just in case
       ${extraUtils}/bin/ash -n $target
     '';