diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/databases/mysql.nix b/nixos/modules/services/databases/mysql.nix
index 1cdecedfc772..efc52e917b00 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/databases/mysql.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/databases/mysql.nix
@@ -167,6 +167,12 @@ in
 
         unitConfig.RequiresMountsFor = "${cfg.dataDir}";
 
+        path = [
+          # Needed for the mysql_install_db command in the preStart script
+          # which calls the hostname command.
+          pkgs.nettools
+        ];
+
         preStart =
           ''
             if ! test -e ${cfg.dataDir}/mysql; then