diff --git a/nixos/maintainers/scripts/lxd/lxd-container-image.nix b/nixos/maintainers/scripts/lxd/lxd-container-image.nix
index 3f330952d695..930ab34af385 100644
--- a/nixos/maintainers/scripts/lxd/lxd-container-image.nix
+++ b/nixos/maintainers/scripts/lxd/lxd-container-image.nix
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@
     };
   in ''
     if [ ! -e /etc/nixos/configuration.nix ]; then
-      mkdir -p /etc/nixos
-      cp ${config} /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
+      install -m 644 -D ${config} /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
     fi
   '';