diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
index 62398f27d088..c6dbb96951ae 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd-unit-options.nix
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ in rec {
 
     path = mkOption {
       default = [];
-      type = with types; listOf package;
+      type = with types; listOf (oneOf [ package str ]);
       apply = ps: "${makeBinPath ps}:${makeSearchPathOutput "bin" "sbin" ps}";
       description = ''
         Packages added to the service's <envar>PATH</envar>