diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/scheduling/cron.nix b/nixos/modules/services/scheduling/cron.nix
index 447d07b4baf43..523c4989a38be 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/scheduling/cron.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/scheduling/cron.nix
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ in
         wantedBy = [ "multi-user.target" ];
 
         preStart = ''
-          mkdir -m 710 -p /var/cron
+          mkdir -m 710 /var/cron || true
 
           # By default, allow all users to create a crontab.  This
           # is denoted by the existence of an empty cron.deny file.