diff --git a/gnu/system.scm b/gnu/system.scm
index 01baa248a2..3ff3073017 100644
--- a/gnu/system.scm
+++ b/gnu/system.scm
@@ -203,7 +203,11 @@
          (default %default-issue))
 
   (packages operating-system-packages             ; list of (PACKAGE OUTPUT...)
-            (default %base-packages))             ; or just PACKAGE
+            (thunked)                             ; or just PACKAGE
+            (default (append (file-system-packages
+                              (operating-system-file-systems
+                               this-operating-system))
+                             %base-packages)))
 
   (timezone operating-system-timezone)            ; string
   (locale   operating-system-locale               ; string