diff --git a/tools/tools/nanobsd/defaults.sh b/tools/tools/nanobsd/defaults.sh
index 9a837d483103..0002373be658 100755
--- a/tools/tools/nanobsd/defaults.sh
+++ b/tools/tools/nanobsd/defaults.sh
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ install_world ( ) (
 	nano_make_install_env
 	set -o xtrace
 	cd "${NANO_SRC}"
-	${NANO_MAKE} installworld DESTDIR="${NANO_WORLDDIR}"
+	${NANO_MAKE} installworld DESTDIR="${NANO_WORLDDIR}" DB_FROM_SRC=yes
 	chflags -R noschg "${NANO_WORLDDIR}"
 	) > ${NANO_LOG}/_.iw 2>&1
 )
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ install_etc ( ) (
 	nano_make_install_env
 	set -o xtrace
 	cd "${NANO_SRC}"
-	${NANO_MAKE} distribution DESTDIR="${NANO_WORLDDIR}"
+	${NANO_MAKE} distribution DESTDIR="${NANO_WORLDDIR}" DB_FROM_SRC=yes
 	# make.conf doesn't get created by default, but some ports need it
 	# so they can spam it.
 	cp /dev/null "${NANO_WORLDDIR}"/etc/make.conf
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ install_kernel ( ) (
 
 	set -o xtrace
 	cd "${NANO_SRC}"
-	${NANO_MAKE} installkernel DESTDIR="${NANO_WORLDDIR}"
+	${NANO_MAKE} installkernel DESTDIR="${NANO_WORLDDIR}" DB_FROM_SRC=yes
 
 	) > ${NANO_LOG}/_.ik 2>&1
 )