diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix b/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
index f78dd532eb80..92065fb7fa22 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/misc/nix-daemon.nix
@@ -445,7 +445,8 @@ in
 
     system.activationScripts.nix = stringAfter [ "etc" "users" ]
       ''
-        install -m 0755 -d /nix/var/nix/{gcroots,profiles}/per-user
+        # Create directories in /nix.
+        ${nix}/bin/nix ping-store
 
         # Subscribe the root user to the NixOS channel by default.
         if [ ! -e "/root/.nix-channels" ]; then