diff --git a/nixos/modules/misc/documentation.nix b/nixos/modules/misc/documentation.nix
index 1d23b9b72442..f707089492b6 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/misc/documentation.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/misc/documentation.nix
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ let
       ];
     };
 
+  # list of man outputs currently active intended for use as default values
+  # for man-related options, thus "man" is included unconditionally.
+  activeManOutputs = [ "man" ] ++ lib.optionals cfg.dev.enable [ "devman" ];
+
 in
 
 {
@@ -126,7 +130,7 @@ in
           name = "man-paths";
           paths = config.environment.systemPackages;
           pathsToLink = [ "/share/man" ];
-          extraOutputsToInstall = ["man"];
+          extraOutputsToInstall = activeManOutputs;
           ignoreCollisions = true;
         };
         defaultText = "all man pages in config.environment.systemPackages";
@@ -222,7 +226,7 @@ in
     (mkIf cfg.man.enable {
       environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.man-db ];
       environment.pathsToLink = [ "/share/man" ];
-      environment.extraOutputsToInstall = [ "man" ] ++ optional cfg.dev.enable "devman";
+      environment.extraOutputsToInstall = activeManOutputs;
       environment.etc."man_db.conf".text =
         let
           manualCache = pkgs.runCommandLocal "man-cache" { } ''