diff --git a/head-node.scm b/head-node.scm
index 27b6628f78dcfd8e3c8df96963c9b329e5034971..a87c43e7497761d908b0f402519d92920c785343 100644
--- a/head-node.scm
+++ b/head-node.scm
@@ -497,7 +497,6 @@
                  (service cuirass-service-type
                           (cuirass-configuration
                            (cuirass latest:cuirass)
-                           (use-substitutes? #t)
 
                            ;; By default, poll repositories relatively
                            ;; infrequently.  Send POST requests on