diff --git a/nixos/modules/profiles/installation-device.nix b/nixos/modules/profiles/installation-device.nix
index 514ec06645ed..32884f4b8754 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/profiles/installation-device.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/profiles/installation-device.nix
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ with lib;
     services.getty.helpLine = ''
       The "nixos" and "root" accounts have empty passwords.
 
-      An ssh daemon is running. You then must set a password
-      for either "root" or "nixos" with `passwd` or add an ssh key
-      to /home/nixos/.ssh/authorized_keys be able to login.
+      To log in over ssh you must set a password for either "nixos" or "root"
+      with `passwd` (prefix with `sudo` for "root"), or add your public key to
+      /home/nixos/.ssh/authorized_keys or /root/.ssh/authorized_keys.
 
       If you need a wireless connection, type
       `sudo systemctl start wpa_supplicant` and configure a