diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/alsa-utils/default.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/alsa-utils/default.nix
index 8bd273582e3..ca3a45bddfd 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/alsa-utils/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/alsa-utils/default.nix
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation rec {
   
   configureFlags = "--disable-xmlto --with-udev-rules-dir=$(out)/lib/udev/rules.d";
 
+  installFlags = "ASOUND_STATE_DIR=$(TMPDIR)/dummy";
+
   meta = {
     description = "ALSA, the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture utils";