diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/networking/keepalived/default.nix b/nixos/modules/services/networking/keepalived/default.nix
index 429a47c3962c..bf5e96f001a8 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/networking/keepalived/default.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/networking/keepalived/default.nix
@@ -59,9 +59,11 @@ let
         ${optionalString i.vmacXmitBase "vmac_xmit_base"}
 
         ${optionalString (i.unicastSrcIp != null) "unicast_src_ip ${i.unicastSrcIp}"}
-        unicast_peer {
-          ${concatStringsSep "\n" i.unicastPeers}
-        }
+        ${optionalString (builtins.length i.unicastPeers > 0) ''
+          unicast_peer {
+            ${concatStringsSep "\n" i.unicastPeers}
+          }
+        ''}
 
         virtual_ipaddress {
           ${concatMapStringsSep "\n" virtualIpLine i.virtualIps}