diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix b/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
index df8db7f34d0..f016fff824c 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ let
       ${if config.boot.initrd.systemd.enable then ''
         cp ${config.system.build.bootStage2} $out/prepare-root
         substituteInPlace $out/prepare-root --subst-var-by systemConfig $out
-        ln -s "$systemd/lib/systemd/systemd" $out/init
+        # This must not be a symlink or the abs_path of the grub builder for the tests
+        # will resolve the symlink and we end up with a path that doesn't point to a
+        # system closure.
+        cp "$systemd/lib/systemd/systemd" $out/init
       '' else ''
         cp ${config.system.build.bootStage2} $out/init
         substituteInPlace $out/init --subst-var-by systemConfig $out