diff --git a/modules/power/default.nix b/modules/power/default.nix
index e36a027d..c3e4974d 100644
--- a/modules/power/default.nix
+++ b/modules/power/default.nix
@@ -35,10 +35,8 @@ in
       echo "configuring power..." >&2
 
       ${lib.optionalString (cfg.restartAfterPowerFailure != null) ''
-        if ! systemsetup -getRestartPowerFailure | grep -q "Not supported"; then
-          systemsetup -setRestartPowerFailure \
-            '${onOff cfg.restartAfterPowerFailure}' &> /dev/null
-        fi
+        systemsetup -setRestartPowerFailure \
+          '${onOff cfg.restartAfterPowerFailure}' &> /dev/null
       ''}
 
       ${lib.optionalString (cfg.restartAfterFreeze != null) ''
diff --git a/modules/system/checks.nix b/modules/system/checks.nix
index 796e7e4e..e6ee1b3f 100644
--- a/modules/system/checks.nix
+++ b/modules/system/checks.nix
@@ -308,6 +308,15 @@ let
         exit 2
     fi
   '';
+
+  # some mac devices, notably notebook do not support restartAfterPowerFailure option
+  restartAfterPowerFailureIsSupported = ''
+    if sudo /usr/sbin/systemsetup -getRestartPowerFailure | grep -q "Not supported"; then
+       echo "error: Your system do not support the restartAfterPowerFailure feature" >&2
+       echo "Please ensure that power.restartAfterPowerFailure is not set." >&2
+       exit 2
+    fi
+  '';
 in
 
 {
@@ -357,6 +366,7 @@ in
       (mkIf cfg.verifyNixPath nixPath)
       oldSshAuthorizedKeysDirectory
       (mkIf config.homebrew.enable homebrewInstalled)
+      (mkIf (config.power.restartAfterPowerFailure != null) restartAfterPowerFailureIsSupported)
     ];
 
     system.activationScripts.checks.text = ''