diff --git a/modules/system/base.nix b/modules/system/base.nix
index 44a8d912..43c9d7ff 100644
--- a/modules/system/base.nix
+++ b/modules/system/base.nix
@@ -2,22 +2,46 @@
 
 {
   system.activationScripts.createRun.text = ''
-    if ! test -L /run; then
-      if ! grep -q '^run\b' /etc/synthetic.conf 2>/dev/null; then
+    if [[ ! -L /run ]]; then
+      # This file doesn't exist by default on macOS and is only supported after 10.15
+      # however every system with Nix installed should have this file otherwise `/nix`
+      # wouldn't exist.
+      if [[ -e /etc/synthetic.conf ]]; then
+        if ! grep -q '^run\b' /etc/synthetic.conf 2>/dev/null; then
           echo "setting up /run via /etc/synthetic.conf..."
-          echo -e "run\tprivate/var/run" | sudo tee -a /etc/synthetic.conf >/dev/null
-          sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -B &>/dev/null || true
-          sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -t &>/dev/null || true
-          if ! test -L /run; then
-            echo "warning: apfs.util failed to symlink /run"
-          fi
-      fi
-      if ! test -L /run; then
-          echo "setting up /run..."
-          sudo ln -sfn private/var/run /run
-      fi
-      if ! test -L /run; then
-        echo "warning: failed to symlink /run"
+          printf 'run\tprivate/var/run\n' | sudo tee -a /etc/synthetic.conf >/dev/null
+        fi
+
+        # for Catalina (10.15)
+        sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -B &>/dev/null || true
+        # for Big Sur (11.0)
+        sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -t &>/dev/null || true
+
+        if [[ ! -L /run ]]; then
+          printf >&2 'error: apfs.util failed to symlink /run, aborting activation\n'
+          printf >&2 'To create a symlink from /run to /var/run, please run:\n'
+          printf >&2 '\n'
+          printf >&2 "$ printf 'run\tprivate/var/run\n' | sudo tee -a /etc/synthetic.conf"
+          printf >&2 '$ sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -B # For Catalina\n'
+          printf >&2 '$ sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -t # For Big Sur and later\n' >&2
+          printf >&2 '\n'
+          printf >&2 'The current contents of /etc/synthetic.conf is:\n'
+          printf >&2 '\n'
+          sudo sed 's/^/    /' /etc/synthetic.conf >&2
+          printf >&2 '\n'
+          exit 1
+        fi
+      else
+        echo "setting up /run..."
+        sudo ln -sfn private/var/run /run
+
+        if [[ ! -L /run ]]; then
+          printf >&2 'error: failed to symlink /run, aborting activation\n'
+          printf >&2 'To create a symlink from /run to /var/run, please run:\n'
+          printf >&2 '\n'
+          printf >&2 '$ sudo ln -sfn private/var/link /run\n'
+          exit 1
+        fi
       fi
     fi
   '';
diff --git a/modules/system/checks.nix b/modules/system/checks.nix
index 497cd9a9..6d7ccc00 100644
--- a/modules/system/checks.nix
+++ b/modules/system/checks.nix
@@ -22,25 +22,9 @@ let
   '';
 
   runLink = ''
-    if ! test -e /run; then
-        echo "error: Directory /run does not exist, aborting activation" >&2
-        echo "Create a symlink to /var/run with:" >&2
-        if test -e /etc/synthetic.conf; then
-            echo >&2
-            echo "$ printf 'run\tprivate/var/run\n' | sudo tee -a /etc/synthetic.conf" >&2
-            echo "$ sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -B # For Catalina" >&2
-            echo "$ sudo /System/Library/Filesystems/apfs.fs/Contents/Resources/apfs.util -t # For Big Sur and later" >&2
-            echo >&2
-            echo "The current contents of /etc/synthetic.conf is:" >&2
-            echo >&2
-            sed 's/^/    /' /etc/synthetic.conf >&2
-            echo >&2
-        else
-            echo >&2
-            echo "$ sudo ln -s private/var/run /run" >&2
-            echo >&2
-        fi
-        exit 2
+    if [[ ! -e /run ]]; then
+      printf >&2 'error: directory /run does not exist, aborting activation\n'
+      exit 1
     fi
   '';
 
@@ -59,7 +43,7 @@ let
         exit 2
      fi
    '';
- 
+
   preSequoiaBuildUsers = ''
     ${lib.optionalString config.nix.configureBuildUsers ''
       # Don’t complain when we’re about to migrate old‐style build users…