diff --git a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix
index 03000d0cdd8..ea61e7d68a2 100644
--- a/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/stdenv/generic/default.nix
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ let lib = import ../../../lib; in lib.makeOverridable (
 
 let
 
-  allowUnfree = config.allowUnfree or false && builtins.getEnv "HYDRA_DISALLOW_UNFREE" != "1";
+  allowUnfree = config.allowUnfree or false || builtins.getEnv "NIXPKGS_ALLOW_UNFREE" == "1";
 
   allowBroken = builtins.getEnv "NIXPKGS_ALLOW_BROKEN" == "1";