diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f25830789..4258d9178 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -102,13 +102,7 @@ ifneq ($(ssh),)
 populate: populate-flags += --ssh=$(ssh)
 endif
 populate:
-	nix-instantiate \
-		--eval \
-		--json \
-		--readonly-mode \
-		--show-trace \
-		--strict \
-		$(LOGNAME)/1systems/$(system)/source.nix | \
+	nix-shell --run 'get-source $(LOGNAME)/1systems/$(system)/source.nix' \
 	populate $(populate-target) $(populate-flags)
 
 # usage: make pkgs.populate