diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
index 69e0dee1d20c..6d082cb100e2 100755
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/nixos-rebuild/nixos-rebuild.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ if [ -x "@runtimeShell@" ]; then export SHELL="@runtimeShell@"; fi;
 
 set -e
 set -o pipefail
+shopt -s inherit_errexit
 
 export PATH=@path@:$PATH