diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix b/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
index 83c14e45685b..f3e86bfd2019 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/system-path.nix
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ in
       systemPackages = mkOption {
         type = types.listOf types.path;
         default = [];
-        example = "[ pkgs.firefox pkgs.thunderbird ]";
+        example = literalExample "[ pkgs.firefox pkgs.thunderbird ]";
         description = ''
           The set of packages that appear in
           /run/current-system/sw.  These packages are