diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix
index c1538feb9df5..ca2c4035cc9f 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/virtualbox-image.nix
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ in {
           --ostype ${if pkgs.stdenv.system == "x86_64-linux" then "Linux26_64" else "Linux26"}
         VBoxManage modifyvm "$vmName" \
           --memory 1536 --acpi on --vram 10 \
+          ${optionalString (pkgs.stdenv.system == "i686-linux") "--pae on"} \
           --nictype1 virtio --nic1 nat \
           --audiocontroller ac97 --audio alsa \
           --rtcuseutc on \