diff --git a/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh b/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh
index 0a452b86018a..da28c027c563 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh
+++ b/nixos/modules/installer/tools/nixos-install.sh
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ chroot $mountPoint /nix/var/nix/profiles/system/activate
 
 
 # Ask the user to set a root password.
-if [ -z "$noRootPasswd" ] && [ -x $mountPoint/var/setuid-wrappers/passwd ] && [ -t 0 ]; then
+if [ -z "$noRootPasswd" ] && chroot $mountPoint [ -x /var/setuid-wrappers/passwd ] && [ -t 0 ]; then
     echo "setting root password..."
     chroot $mountPoint /var/setuid-wrappers/passwd
 fi