diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
index 03c70102c8c..d4ae4c93468 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
@@ -1188,9 +1188,12 @@ in
     systemd.services.systemd-remount-fs.unitConfig.ConditionVirtualization = "!container";
     systemd.services.systemd-random-seed.unitConfig.ConditionVirtualization = "!container";
 
-    boot.kernel.sysctl = mkIf (!cfg.coredump.enable) {
-      "kernel.core_pattern" = "core";
-    };
+    boot.kernel.sysctl."kernel.core_pattern" = mkIf (!cfg.coredump.enable) "core";
+
+    # Increase numeric PID range (set directly instead of copying a one-line file from systemd)
+    # https://github.com/systemd/systemd/pull/12226
+    boot.kernel.sysctl."kernel.pid_max" = mkIf pkgs.stdenv.is64bit (lib.mkDefault 4194304);
+
     boot.kernelParams = optional (!cfg.enableUnifiedCgroupHierarchy) "systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=0";
   };