diff --git a/gnu/installer/final.scm b/gnu/installer/final.scm
index ef487805f0..13deffef85 100644
--- a/gnu/installer/final.scm
+++ b/gnu/installer/final.scm
@@ -217,8 +217,16 @@ (define (assert-exit x)
              ;; alive.
              (stop-service 'guix-daemon)
 
-             ;; Restore the database and restart it.
+             ;; Restore the database.
              (copy-file saved-database database-file)
+
+             ;; Sync it to the filesystem.
+             (let* ((flags O_RDONLY)
+                    (fd (open database-file flags)))
+               (fsync fd)
+               (close fd))
+
+             ;; And restart guix-daemon.
              (start-service 'guix-daemon)
 
              ;; Finally umount the cow-store and exit the container.