diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
index fc54715ea7b8..4de27fd3000d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/common-config.nix
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ with stdenv.lib;
   X86_MCE y
 
   # PCI-Expresscard hotplug support
-  HOTPLUG_PCI_PCIE y
+  ${optionalString (versionAtLeast version "3.12") "HOTPLUG_PCI_PCIE y"}
 
   # Linux containers.
   NAMESPACES? y #  Required by 'unshare' used by 'nixos-install'