diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
index ebbb596f91f6..217e04d35720 100755
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ rollback=
 upgrade=
 upgrade_all=
 profile=/nix/var/nix/profiles/system
-buildHost=localhost
+buildHost=
 targetHost=
 remoteSudo=
 verboseScript=
@@ -151,12 +151,6 @@ fi
 if [[ -z "$buildHost" && -n "$targetHost" ]]; then
     buildHost="$targetHost"
 fi
-if [ "$targetHost" = localhost ]; then
-    targetHost=
-fi
-if [ "$buildHost" = localhost ]; then
-    buildHost=
-fi
 
 # log the given argument to stderr if verbose mode is on
 logVerbose() {