diff --git a/nixos/modules/misc/nixpkgs.nix b/nixos/modules/misc/nixpkgs.nix
index 9d19dd2a7ff2..e0c192246c0c 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/misc/nixpkgs.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/misc/nixpkgs.nix
@@ -196,7 +196,6 @@ in
     system = mkOption {
       type = types.str;
       example = "i686-linux";
-      default = { system = builtins.currentSystem; };
       description = ''
         Specifies the Nix platform type on which NixOS should be built.
         It is better to specify <code>nixpkgs.localSystem</code> instead.