diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/initrd.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/initrd.nix
index 332cfc2fbb13..472c72fb3889 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/initrd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd/initrd.nix
@@ -538,7 +538,9 @@ in
           "${cfg.package.util-linux}/bin/umount"
           "${cfg.package.util-linux}/bin/sulogin"
 
-          # required for script services, and some tools like xfs still want the sh symlink
+          # required for services generated with writeShellScript and friends
+          pkgs.runtimeShell
+          # some tools like xfs still want the sh symlink
           "${pkgs.bash}/bin"
 
           # so NSS can look up usernames