diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/cluster/kubernetes/kubelet.nix b/nixos/modules/services/cluster/kubernetes/kubelet.nix
index aa759e20f49f..ca7b524081f6 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/cluster/kubernetes/kubelet.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/cluster/kubernetes/kubelet.nix
@@ -336,7 +336,10 @@ in
           [
             gitMinimal
             openssh
-            util-linux
+            # TODO (#409339): remove this patch. We had to add it to avoid a mass rebuild
+            # for the 25.05 release. Once the staging cycle referenced in the above PR completes,
+            # switch back to plain util-linux.
+            util-linux.withPatches
             iproute2
             ethtool
             thin-provisioning-tools