diff --git a/pkgs/tools/system/lxc/default.nix b/pkgs/tools/system/lxc/default.nix
index 0d7d5165bac..773ee536fb8 100644
--- a/pkgs/tools/system/lxc/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/tools/system/lxc/default.nix
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec{
     sed -i -e '/ldconfig/d' src/lxc/Makefile.in
   '';
 
+  configureFlags = [ "--localstatedir=/var" ];
+
   buildInputs = [ libcap ];
 
   meta = {