diff --git a/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix b/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix
index b779f12aca30..bedba984a3c2 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/config/sysctl.nix
@@ -31,16 +31,18 @@ in
         };
       in types.submodule {
         freeformType = types.attrsOf sysctlOption;
-        options."net.core.rmem_max" = mkOption {
-          type = types.nullOr highestValueType;
-          default = null;
-          description = lib.mdDoc "The maximum socket receive buffer size. In case of conflicting values, the highest will be used.";
-        };
+        options = {
+          "net.core.rmem_max" = mkOption {
+            type = types.nullOr highestValueType;
+            default = null;
+            description = lib.mdDoc "The maximum receive socket buffer size in bytes. In case of conflicting values, the highest will be used.";
+          };
 
-        options."net.core.wmem_max" = mkOption {
-          type = types.nullOr highestValueType;
-          default = null;
-          description = lib.mdDoc "The maximum socket send buffer size. In case of conflicting values, the highest will be used.";
+          "net.core.wmem_max" = mkOption {
+            type = types.nullOr highestValueType;
+            default = null;
+            description = lib.mdDoc "The maximum send socket buffer size in bytes. In case of conflicting values, the highest will be used.";
+          };
         };
       };
       default = {};
diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/databases/aerospike.nix b/nixos/modules/services/databases/aerospike.nix
index 373c8f4bffb0..4923c0f00ddb 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/databases/aerospike.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/databases/aerospike.nix
@@ -108,6 +108,11 @@ in
     };
     users.groups.aerospike.gid = config.ids.gids.aerospike;
 
+    boot.kernel.sysctl = {
+      "net.core.rmem_max" = mkDefault 15728640;
+      "net.core.wmem_max" = mkDefault 5242880;
+    };
+
     systemd.services.aerospike = rec {
       description = "Aerospike server";
 
@@ -131,14 +136,6 @@ in
           echo "kernel.shmmax too low, setting to 1GB"
           ${pkgs.procps}/bin/sysctl -w kernel.shmmax=1073741824
         fi
-        if [ $(echo "$(cat /proc/sys/net/core/rmem_max) < 15728640" | ${pkgs.bc}/bin/bc) == "1" ]; then
-          echo "increasing socket buffer limit (/proc/sys/net/core/rmem_max): $(cat /proc/sys/net/core/rmem_max) -> 15728640"
-          echo 15728640 > /proc/sys/net/core/rmem_max
-        fi
-        if [ $(echo "$(cat /proc/sys/net/core/wmem_max) <  5242880" | ${pkgs.bc}/bin/bc) == "1"  ]; then
-          echo "increasing socket buffer limit (/proc/sys/net/core/wmem_max): $(cat /proc/sys/net/core/wmem_max) -> 5242880"
-          echo  5242880 > /proc/sys/net/core/wmem_max
-        fi
         install -d -m0700 -o ${serviceConfig.User} -g ${serviceConfig.Group} "${cfg.workDir}"
         install -d -m0700 -o ${serviceConfig.User} -g ${serviceConfig.Group} "${cfg.workDir}/smd"
         install -d -m0700 -o ${serviceConfig.User} -g ${serviceConfig.Group} "${cfg.workDir}/udf"