diff --git a/src/nix/hive/eval.nix b/src/nix/hive/eval.nix
index 30a57e8..8e17b48 100644
--- a/src/nix/hive/eval.nix
+++ b/src/nix/hive/eval.nix
@@ -428,6 +428,8 @@ let
       system.activationScripts.colmena-chown-keys = lib.mkIf (length commands != 0) script;
     };
   in evalConfig {
+    inherit (npkgs) system;
+
     modules = [
       assertionModule
       nixpkgsModule
diff --git a/src/nix/hive/tests/mod.rs b/src/nix/hive/tests/mod.rs
index e4c7d62..773c94b 100644
--- a/src/nix/hive/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/src/nix/hive/tests/mod.rs
@@ -267,6 +267,22 @@ fn test_eval_non_existent_pkg() {
 
 // Nixpkgs config tests
 
+#[test]
+fn test_nixpkgs_system() {
+    TempHive::valid(r#"
+      {
+        meta = {
+          nixpkgs = import <nixpkgs> {
+            system = "armv5tel-linux";
+          };
+        };
+        test = { pkgs, ... }: {
+          boot.isContainer = assert pkgs.system == "armv5tel-linux"; true;
+        };
+      }
+    "#);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_nixpkgs_overlay_meta_nixpkgs() {
     // Only set overlays in meta.nixpkgs