diff --git a/gnu/services/configuration.scm b/gnu/services/configuration.scm
index 02d1aa1796..174c2f20d2 100644
--- a/gnu/services/configuration.scm
+++ b/gnu/services/configuration.scm
@@ -440,10 +440,7 @@ (define list-of-strings?
   (list-of string?))
 
 (define alist?
-  (match-lambda
-    (() #t)
-    ((head . tail) (and (pair? head) (alist? tail)))
-    (_ #f)))
+  (list-of pair?))
 
 (define serialize-file-like empty-serializer)