diff --git a/nixos/modules/tasks/network-interfaces.nix b/nixos/modules/tasks/network-interfaces.nix
index 9619f0f5ebe..bbfcb62c5d7 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/tasks/network-interfaces.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/tasks/network-interfaces.nix
@@ -401,9 +401,11 @@ in
                 EOF
 
                 # Disable or enable IPv6.
-                if [ -e /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6 ]; then
-                  echo ${if cfg.enableIPv6 then "0" else "1"} > /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6
-                fi
+                ${optionalString (!config.boot.isContainer) ''
+                  if [ -e /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6 ]; then
+                    echo ${if cfg.enableIPv6 then "0" else "1"} > /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/all/disable_ipv6
+                  fi
+                ''}
 
                 # Set the default gateway.
                 ${optionalString (cfg.defaultGateway != "") ''