diff --git a/nixos/lib/systemd-lib.nix b/nixos/lib/systemd-lib.nix
index 65356634655d..4c52643446ed 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/systemd-lib.nix
+++ b/nixos/lib/systemd-lib.nix
@@ -187,11 +187,14 @@ in rec {
         done
       done
 
-      # Symlink all units defined by systemd.units. If these are also
-      # provided by systemd or systemd.packages, then add them as
+      # Symlink units defined by systemd.units where override strategy
+      # shall be automatically detected. If these are also provided by
+      # systemd or systemd.packages, then add them as
       # <unit-name>.d/overrides.conf, which makes them extend the
       # upstream unit.
-      for i in ${toString (mapAttrsToList (n: v: v.unit) units)}; do
+      for i in ${toString (mapAttrsToList
+          (n: v: v.unit)
+          (lib.filterAttrs (n: v: (attrByPath [ "overrideStrategy" ] "asDropinIfExists" v) == "asDropinIfExists") units))}; do
         fn=$(basename $i/*)
         if [ -e $out/$fn ]; then
           if [ "$(readlink -f $i/$fn)" = /dev/null ]; then
@@ -210,6 +213,16 @@ in rec {
         fi
       done
 
+      # Symlink units defined by systemd.units which shall be
+      # treated as drop-in file.
+      for i in ${toString (mapAttrsToList
+          (n: v: v.unit)
+          (lib.filterAttrs (n: v: v ? overrideStrategy && v.overrideStrategy == "asDropin") units))}; do
+        fn=$(basename $i/*)
+        mkdir -p $out/$fn.d
+        ln -s $i/$fn $out/$fn.d/overrides.conf
+      done
+
       # Create service aliases from aliases option.
       ${concatStrings (mapAttrsToList (name: unit:
           concatMapStrings (name2: ''
@@ -340,7 +353,7 @@ in rec {
     '';
 
   targetToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text =
         ''
           [Unit]
@@ -349,7 +362,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   serviceToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Service]
@@ -371,7 +384,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   socketToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Socket]
@@ -382,7 +395,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   timerToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Timer]
@@ -391,7 +404,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   pathToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Path]
@@ -400,7 +413,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   mountToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Mount]
@@ -409,7 +422,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   automountToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Automount]
@@ -418,7 +431,7 @@ in rec {
     };
 
   sliceToUnit = name: def:
-    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable;
+    { inherit (def) aliases wantedBy requiredBy enable overrideStrategy;
       text = commonUnitText def +
         ''
           [Slice]
diff --git a/nixos/lib/systemd-unit-options.nix b/nixos/lib/systemd-unit-options.nix
index 1c56b1b9aa04..79c019217814 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/systemd-unit-options.nix
+++ b/nixos/lib/systemd-unit-options.nix
@@ -48,6 +48,22 @@ in rec {
       '';
     };
 
+    overrideStrategy = mkOption {
+      default = "asDropinIfExists";
+      type = types.enum [ "asDropinIfExists" "asDropin" ];
+      description = lib.mdDoc ''
+        Defines how unit configuration is provided for systemd:
+
+        `asDropinIfExists` creates a unit file when no unit file is provided by the package
+        otherwise a drop-in file name `overrides.conf`.
+
+        `asDropin` creates a drop-in file named `overrides.conf`.
+        Mainly needed to define instances for systemd template units (e.g. `systemd-nspawn@mycontainer.service`).
+
+        See also systemd.unit(1).
+      '';
+    };
+
     requiredBy = mkOption {
       default = [];
       type = types.listOf unitNameType;