diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/linux/default.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/linux/default.nix
index ac7d8f5c706..cd49d4a5a74 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/linux/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/linux/default.nix
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ rec {
             dontPatchShebangs=1
             ${commonPreHook}
           '';
-        shell = "${bootstrapTools}/bin/sh";
+        shell = "${bootstrapTools}/bin/bash";
         initialPath = [bootstrapTools];
         fetchurlBoot = import ../../build-support/fetchurl {
           stdenv = stage0.stdenv;