diff --git a/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh b/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh
index 57a6a20a71f..009e9af7c87 100644
--- a/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh
+++ b/boot/boot-stage-2-init.sh
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ done
 cat > /etc/profile <<EOF
 export PATH=$PATH
 export MODULE_DIR=$MODULE_DIR
+export NIX_CONF_DIR=/nix/etc/nix
 
 source $(dirname $(type -tp nix-env))/../etc/profile.d/nix.sh