diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
index 6c6adab66e7c..4e395899bd3d 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
@@ -408,10 +408,11 @@ let
 
       # Symlink all units provided listed in systemd.packages.
       for i in ${toString cfg.packages}; do
-        files=$(echo $i/etc/systemd/${type}/* $i/lib/systemd/${type}/*)
-        if [ -n "$files" ]; then
-          ln -s $files $out/
-        fi
+        for fn in $i/etc/systemd/${type}/* $i/lib/systemd/${type}/*; do
+          if ! [[ "$fn" =~ .wants$ ]]; then
+            ln -s $fn $out/
+          fi
+        done
       done
 
       # Symlink all units defined by systemd.units. If these are also