diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/build-bazel-package/default.nix b/pkgs/build-support/build-bazel-package/default.nix
index d1a8983b209..8fa3cc55279 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/build-bazel-package/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/build-bazel-package/default.nix
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ in stdenv.mkDerivation (fBuildAttrs // {
       export bazelOut="$(echo ''${NIX_BUILD_TOP}/output | sed -e 's,//,/,g')"
       export bazelUserRoot="$(echo ''${NIX_BUILD_TOP}/tmp | sed -e 's,//,/,g')"
       export HOME="$NIX_BUILD_TOP"
+      export USER="nix"
       # This is needed for git_repository with https remotes
       export GIT_SSL_CAINFO="${cacert}/etc/ssl/certs/ca-bundle.crt"
       # This is needed for Bazel fetchers that are themselves programs (e.g.