diff --git a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
index 20748f9c3eb5..f5d73ba665e9 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix
@@ -379,7 +379,12 @@ let
         fn=${systemd}/example/systemd/${type}/$i
         if ! [ -e $fn ]; then echo "missing $fn"; false; fi
         if [ -L $fn ]; then
-          cp -pd $fn $out/
+          target="$(readlink "$fn")"
+          if [ ''${target:0:3} = ../ ]; then
+            ln -s "$(readlink -f "$fn")" $out/
+          else
+            cp -pd $fn $out/
+          fi
         else
           ln -s $fn $out/
         fi