diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix
index 8688b5ad9bfb..f4cf9753c0a1 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/stage-1.nix
@@ -252,9 +252,8 @@ let
       echo checking syntax
       # check both with bash
       ${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
+      ${pkgs.buildPackages.busybox}/bin/ash -n $target
     '';
 
     inherit udevRules extraUtils modulesClosure;