diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc.nix b/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc.nix
index 6971ab42d99f..84468ea31f74 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/etc/etc.nix
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ with lib;
 
 let
 
-  etc' = filter (f: f.enable) (attrValues config.environment.etc);
+  # if the source is a local file, it should be imported to the store
+  localToStore = mapAttrs (name: value: if name == "source" then "${value}" else value);
+  etc' = map localToStore (filter (f: f.enable) (attrValues config.environment.etc));
 
   etc = pkgs.runCommandLocal "etc" {
     # This is needed for the systemd module