diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
index b6e342cf9b5e..160c3f85977b 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/default.nix
@@ -437,8 +437,8 @@ rec {
           echo "Unpacking base image..."
           tar -C image -xpf "$fromImage"
           # Do not import the base image configuration and manifest
+          chmod a+w image image/*.json
           rm -f image/*.json
-          rm -f image/manifest.json
 
           if [[ -z "$fromImageName" ]]; then
             fromImageName=$(jshon -k < image/repositories|head -n1)