diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix
index 674f230c8104..ee327ed805b2 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/qemu-vm.nix
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ in
         mkOption {
           default = [
             "-net nic,netdev=user.0,model=virtio"
-            "-netdev user,id=user.0,\${QEMU_NET_OPTS:+,$QEMU_NET_OPTS}"
+            "-netdev user,id=user.0\${QEMU_NET_OPTS:+,$QEMU_NET_OPTS}"
           ];
           type = types.listOf types.str;
           description = ''