diff --git a/release/tools/ec2.conf b/release/tools/ec2.conf
index 8cfb3da97d85..0ef5a211df1e 100644
--- a/release/tools/ec2.conf
+++ b/release/tools/ec2.conf
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ vm_extra_pre_umount() {
 	# The EC2 console is output-only, so while printing a backtrace can
 	# be useful, there's no point dropping into a debugger or waiting
 	# for a keypress.
-	echo 'debug.trace_on_panic=1' >> ${DESTDIR}/etc/sysctl.conf
-	echo 'debug.debugger_on_panic=0' >> ${DESTDIR}/etc/sysctl.conf
-	echo 'kern.panic_reboot_wait_time=0' >> ${DESTDIR}/etc/sysctl.conf
+	echo 'debug.trace_on_panic=1' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
+	echo 'debug.debugger_on_panic=0' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
+	echo 'kern.panic_reboot_wait_time=0' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf
 
 	# The console is not interactive, so we might as well boot quickly.
 	echo 'autoboot_delay="-1"' >> ${DESTDIR}/boot/loader.conf