diff --git a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix
index 6ff28eb4e651..3feda09d9ec6 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/package-management/nix/default.nix
@@ -208,9 +208,9 @@ in lib.makeExtensible (self: ({
     else
       nix;
 
-  stable = self.nix_2_15;
+  stable = self.nix_2_17;
 
-  unstable = self.nix_2_17;
+  unstable = self.stable;
 } // lib.optionalAttrs config.allowAliases {
   nix_2_4 = throw "nixVersions.nix_2_4 has been removed";