diff --git a/examples/deploy-krops.sh b/examples/deploy-krops.sh
index 6cbd0e1..1615131 100755
--- a/examples/deploy-krops.sh
+++ b/examples/deploy-krops.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ nix-build --out-link $tmpDir/vm - <<'EOF'
     # warning: Nix search path entry '/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels' does not exist, ignoring
     nix.nixPath = lib.mkForce [];
 
-    system.stateVersion = config.system.nixos.release;
+    system.stateVersion = lib.mkDefault config.system.nixos.release;
   };
 }).config.system.build.vm
 EOF
diff --git a/examples/qemu-vm/minimal-vm.nix b/examples/qemu-vm/minimal-vm.nix
index 2c1f51a..6bb9275 100644
--- a/examples/qemu-vm/minimal-vm.nix
+++ b/examples/qemu-vm/minimal-vm.nix
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ rec {
         echo o >/proc/sysrq-trigger
       '';
 
-      system.stateVersion = config.system.nixos.release;
+      system.stateVersion = lib.mkDefault config.system.nixos.release;
     };
   }).config.system.build.vm;
 
diff --git a/test/lib/make-test.nix b/test/lib/make-test.nix
index 6bd52be..09f4b50 100644
--- a/test/lib/make-test.nix
+++ b/test/lib/make-test.nix
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ name: testConfig:
        ''))
     ];
 
-    system.stateVersion = config.system.nixos.release;
+    system.stateVersion = lib.mkDefault config.system.nixos.release;
   })).config.system.build.vm;
 
   config = testConfig;