diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix b/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix
index 45f25180e07b..6489b406b2c7 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ let
         checkType = x: lib.isBool x || lib.isString x || lib.isInt x || x == null;
       in
       checkType val || (val._type or "" == "override" && checkType val.content);
-    merge = loc: defs: lib.mergeOneOption loc (lib.filterOverrides defs);
+    merge = loc: defs: lib.mergeOneOption loc defs;
   };
 
 in
@@ -22,9 +22,7 @@ in
       type =
         let
           highestValueType = lib.types.ints.unsigned // {
-            merge =
-              loc: defs:
-              lib.foldl (a: b: if b.value == null then null else lib.max a b.value) 0 (lib.filterOverrides defs);
+            merge = loc: defs: lib.foldl (a: b: if b.value == null then null else lib.max a b.value) 0 defs;
           };
         in
         lib.types.submodule {